Anomotodon novus

Anomotodon novus

(Winkler, 1874)

Common name Goblin shark relative
Fossil group Sharks & Rays
Order Lamniformes
Family Mitsukurinidae
Genus Anomotodon
Taxonomic status Accepted
Geological age Thanetian
Recorded rarity by age
Thanetian: Not yet established
View age-specific evidence and explanation
AgeRecorded OccurrencesLocalitiesRarity
Thanetian11Not yet established

These counts describe published LBPS Occurrence records with directly assigned, unambiguous geological-unit mappings—not specimen abundance. Records at restricted Localities and ambiguous or unsupported ages are excluded. Species-level age labels are not used as proof of an age-specific Occurrence.

Specimen-based rarity requires comparable, correctly identified physical fossils, geological provenance and publication permissions. It does not estimate your chance of finding a fossil or collecting access.

Quick Identification

Look for: a small slender lamniform tooth with a smooth narrow cusp, no lateral cusplets and a two-lobed root; the crown is simple rather than striated or serrated.

Summary

Anomotodon novus was a small lamniform shark related to the goblin-shark branch of mackerel sharks. It is known mainly from slender isolated teeth rather than articulated skeletons.

The narrow smooth-edged teeth suggest a grasping dentition suited to small fishes and other soft-bodied prey. Tooth position changes crown inclination, so complete root and crown proportions are important for identification.

Diagnostic Features

  • The crown is slender, elongate and smooth on both labial and lingual faces.
  • Cutting edges are continuous and unserrated.
  • Lateral cusplets are absent.
  • The root is slender and bilobed, with rounded lobe ends.
  • A shallow nutritive groove may be present between the root lobes.

Fossil Details

Typical size
Teeth are small, commonly about 5–15 mm in height.
Fossil material
Tooth
Preservation
Broken root lobes can make the tooth resemble other small lamniforms. Species-level identification should use a complete crown-root combination.

Similar Species

Recorded Fossil Sites

Synonyms & Previous Names

Isurus novus

References

  • Dineley, D. & Metcalf, S. (1999). Fossil Fishes of Great Britain. Geological Conservation Review Series, 675 pp.. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough View reference
  • Ward, D.J. (1978). The Lower London Tertiary (Palaeocene) succession of Herne Bay, Kent. Report of the Institute of Geological Sciences. Institute of Geological Sciences View reference
  • Ward, D.J. (1980). The distribution of sharks, rays and chimaeroids in the English Palaeogene. Tertiary Research, 3(1), 13–19 View reference
Last Reviewed
22 August 2026 Reviewed by Sam Harris