Could this be a Ceratosaurus tooth?

[msantix]

Hi, 

 

I saw this tooth for sale and i am wondering if it looks like it could be a Ceratosaurus tooth. I read something about Ceratosaurus teeth having vertical ridges on the inner crown so i think it could possibly be a good match. It is .75 inches long and comes from the Morrison Formation in Wyoming. Thanks.

 

[Pterygotus]

What was it labelled as? 

[msantix]

Basically theropod indet. The seller states it could be either Allosaurus or Ceratosaurus.

[Pterygotus]

@Troodon can probably give a good opinion on the ID.

[Troodon]

Premaxillary teeth can be difficult to assign.  I do not believe this is a ceratosaur tooth.  If you can provide me a density count mid line both carinae it MIGHT point to Allosaurid.

[siteseer]

On 2/20/2020 at 5:33 AM, Troodon said:

Premaxillary teeth can be difficult to assign.  I do not believe this is a ceratosaur tooth.  If you can provide me a density count mid line both carinae it MIGHT point to Allosaurid.

 

Hi Troodon,

 

I don't know a lot about dinosaur teeth, but in this case, wouldn't a ceratosaur look a little more compressed (= flatter) than that relative to its size?  Is that your rationale in leaning away from that ID?  I've had a couple of Allosaurus teeth in the past (remember when you could get them in Quartzsite?) and they were thicker teeth like that.

 

Jess

[Troodon]

7 hours ago, siteseer said:

 

I don't know a lot about dinosaur teeth, but in this case, wouldn't a ceratosaur look a little more compressed (= flatter) than that relative to its size?  Is that your rationale in leaning away from that ID?  I've had a couple of Allosaurus teeth in the past (remember when you could get them in Quartzsite?) and they were thicker teeth like that.

 

Jess

Hi Jess

The shape of the tooth does look more like Premaxillary ones I have from known Allosaurid jaws.   The rise on the distal face, D shaped cross-section where both carina face distally and serration density appears to be same on both edges.

  Not much is published on Ceratosaurus teeth but this is what Ive read from a few papers.  Anterior Ceratosaurus teeth are not compressed but round or oval.   Most have diagnostic fluting on the lingual face.  Mesial denticals much smaller than distal ones or can be absent or restricted to the apical end.   All which are lacking on this tooth.