[Brownie's Beach][Sharks][Partial cutting edges]

Partial Cutting Edges

Lower Hemipristus The scan on the left shows the labial (lip) view of a lower Hemipristus serra or "Snaggle shark" tooth. The maximum length of this tooth as measured from the apex (tip) of the crown to the longest root-lobe is 30mm. Notice the small cusps that stick out from the side of the crown itself. In Sand tigers the cusps start from the root, next to the main crown. This Hemi cusp could almost be considered as a single large serration.

The top third of the crown shows the very characteristic "partial cutting edge". The cutting edge itself is smooth, that is there are no serrations. The irregularities in this cutting edge are a few minor chips, not serrations.

Lower Hemi's are quite common at Brownie's, but this is a particularly large and fine one.

Carcharhinus faliformis

The tooth above shows the labial view of a lower Carcharhinus falciformis or "Silky shark" tooth. This tooth is only 11mm high as measured from the apex of the crown to a line connecting the bottom of the root lobes. (the two scans on this page are not to scale!)

The top half of the crown again shows a partial cutting edge. Contrary to the lower hemi, this cutting edge is finely serrated. The rest of the crown and the shoulders are smooth. These are the hallmarks of a lower C. falciformis.

These teeth are quite rare at Brownie's, and easily confused with the much more frequent lower C. brachyurus and Lemon shark teeth.


Last modified: September 21, 2002 - © Edwin Huizinga