Cretodus crassidens

Cretodus crassidens

Eagle Ford Group, Sherman, TX

A smaller tooth from one of the largest predatory sharks in the Late Cretaceous (~ 90 Ma). It likely filled a similar niche in its environment that the Great White Shark does today. Its teeth are characterized by pointed side cusps, rounded root lobes, no nutrient groove, a shelf-like lingual root protuberance on anterior teeth, and striations (ridges) at the foot of the crown (on both the main cusp and side cusps).

This tooth is as nice as they get in terms of preservation and completeness from this locale - this one is only missing the tip.