Edaphodon bucklandi
Edaphodon bucklandi
Summary
Edaphodon bucklandi was a large extinct chimaeroid, a cartilaginous fish related to living chimaeras and ratfishes. Unlike sharks, which continually replace individual teeth, it carried massive dental plates that grew through life. Dense tritor areas within these plates formed durable crushing surfaces.
The robust dentition suggests a bottom-associated feeder taking hard-bodied prey such as shelled invertebrates. Its exact diet and behaviour are not directly known, but comparison with living chimaeroids and the function of its tooth plates suggest it foraged close to the seabed rather than relying on a slicing shark-like dentition.
Quick Identification
Look for: a large robust Edaphodon tooth plate with a broad plate body and organised tritors; the combination of plate outline, symphyseal region and tritor pattern is more important than colour or a single broken tritor.
Diagnostic Features
- Dental elements are massive persistent plates rather than discrete teeth.
- The mandibular plate is robust and develops a prominent anterior beak region.
- A broad symphyseal surface forms an important part of the mandibular plate outline.
- Large median and additional tritors occupy substantial parts of the oral surface.
- Species identification depends on the complete geometry of the plate and tritor arrangement.
Fossil Details
Similar Species
Recorded Fossil Sites
Beltinge Fish Bed
London Clay Formation
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. (1973). The English Palaeogene Chimaeroid fishes. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, 84(3), 315–330 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