Trigonotodus palatasi
(Kent & Ward, 2018)
Classification: Elasmobranchii Lamniformes Cretoxyrhinidae
Reference of the original description
Addendum: A New Species of Giant Thresher Shark (Family Alopiidae) with serrated teeth. In The Geology and vertebrate paleontology of Calvert Cliffs, Maryland / edited by Stephen J. Godfrey: 157-160
Addendum: A New Species of Giant Thresher Shark (Family Alopiidae) with serrated teeth. In The Geology and vertebrate paleontology of Calvert Cliffs, Maryland / edited by Stephen J. Godfrey: 157-160
Synonyms / new combinations and misspellings
Alopias palatasi
Alopias palatasi
Types
Trigonotodus palatasi
Alopias palatasi
Holotype: CMM: V-385; Paratype: CMM: V-3876; CMM: V-3981; CMM: V-4242; CMM: V-5823; USNM(fossil): 411148; USNM(fossil): 639783;
Trigonotodus palatasi
Alopias palatasi
Holotype: CMM: V-385; Paratype: CMM: V-3876; CMM: V-3981; CMM: V-4242; CMM: V-5823; USNM(fossil): 411148; USNM(fossil): 639783;
Description:
Citation: Trigonotodus palatasi (Kent & Ward, 2018): In: Database of fossil elasmobranch teeth www.shark-references.com, World Wide Web electronic publication, Version 08/2026
Description
Original diagnosis after Kent & Ward, 2018 [26544]: The holotype (CMM-V-385; Figure 2.A1A,B) is an upper anterior (A3?) tooth. The crown is broad and compressed, with cutting edges that are coarsely serrated. The serrations are irregular in size on the basal portions of the crown, becoming somewhat finer and more regular apically. The mesial cutting edge is convex, whereas the distal edge is markedly concave. The lingual coronal face is relatively flat, whereas the labial face is weakly convex. The root is compressed with substantially shortened and relatively deep root lobes that do not extend beyond the lateral shoulders of the crown. The basal root margin is strongly arched.
Anterior teeth closer to the jaw symphysis (Figure 2.A1C,D) are less strongly arched distally than the holotype and have somewhat broader crowns. The root lobes on these teeth may extend slightly beyond the lateral margins of the crown. Upper lateral teeth (Figure 2.A1E,F) are more triangular, with the height and width being nearly identical. The mesial cutting edge is less convex than in anterior teeth and may become weakly sigmoidal in some specimens. The distal edge is only weakly concave. The root is compressed, with a broadly arched to slightly obtuse basal margin. The root is typically slightly broader than the base of the crown.
Lower lateral teeth (Figure 2.A1G,H) have crowns weakly inclined distally and a strongly arched basal root margin. The root is slightly thicker than in upper lateral teeth, although this character is somewhat variable.
Lateral teeth located nearer the commissure have crowns that become lower and more distally arched. In some cases the coronal apex is positioned distal to the distal margin of the root. The distal cutting edge becomes progressively more strongly concave, and the basal root margin becomes more weakly arched.
Original diagnosis after Kent & Ward, 2018 [26544]: The holotype (CMM-V-385; Figure 2.A1A,B) is an upper anterior (A3?) tooth. The crown is broad and compressed, with cutting edges that are coarsely serrated. The serrations are irregular in size on the basal portions of the crown, becoming somewhat finer and more regular apically. The mesial cutting edge is convex, whereas the distal edge is markedly concave. The lingual coronal face is relatively flat, whereas the labial face is weakly convex. The root is compressed with substantially shortened and relatively deep root lobes that do not extend beyond the lateral shoulders of the crown. The basal root margin is strongly arched.
Anterior teeth closer to the jaw symphysis (Figure 2.A1C,D) are less strongly arched distally than the holotype and have somewhat broader crowns. The root lobes on these teeth may extend slightly beyond the lateral margins of the crown. Upper lateral teeth (Figure 2.A1E,F) are more triangular, with the height and width being nearly identical. The mesial cutting edge is less convex than in anterior teeth and may become weakly sigmoidal in some specimens. The distal edge is only weakly concave. The root is compressed, with a broadly arched to slightly obtuse basal margin. The root is typically slightly broader than the base of the crown.
Lower lateral teeth (Figure 2.A1G,H) have crowns weakly inclined distally and a strongly arched basal root margin. The root is slightly thicker than in upper lateral teeth, although this character is somewhat variable.
Lateral teeth located nearer the commissure have crowns that become lower and more distally arched. In some cases the coronal apex is positioned distal to the distal margin of the root. The distal cutting edge becomes progressively more strongly concave, and the basal root margin becomes more weakly arched.
References
Taxonomic and morphometric revision of Alopiidae (Lamniformes) shark family: a qualitative holistic approach based on dental characters. Historical Biology, in press
DOI: 10.1080/08912963.2026.2651906
Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic Chondrichthyes from the Japanese Islands. National Museum of Nature and Science Monographs, 56, 1–184
Alopias grandis (Leriche, 1942) from the Miocene of Italy: insights on a rare species of giant thresher shark. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abhandlungen, 309(2), 93–103
DOI: 10.1127/njgpa/2023/1151

Taxonomic and morphometric revision of Alopiidae (Lamniformes) shark family: a qualitative holistic approach based on dental characters. Historical Biology, in press
DOI: 10.1080/08912963.2026.2651906
Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic Chondrichthyes from the Japanese Islands. National Museum of Nature and Science Monographs, 56, 1–184

Alopias grandis (Leriche, 1942) from the Miocene of Italy: insights on a rare species of giant thresher shark. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abhandlungen, 309(2), 93–103
DOI: 10.1127/njgpa/2023/1151








