Maryland Geological Survey 353 



Galeocerdo pristodontus Cope, 1875, U S. Geol. Survey Terr., vol. ii, p. 295. 

 Corax pristodontus Smith Woodward, 1889, Cat. Fossil Fishes Brit. 



Museum, pt. i, p. 423. 

 Corax pristodontus Hay, 1902, Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey, No. 179, p. 309. 

 Corax pristodontus Fowler, 1911, Bull. 4, Geol. Survey of New Jersey, p. 64, 



fig. 29. 



Description. — " Teeth broad, greatly compressed, and nearly wide as 

 high. Crown greatly oblique to sometimes erect, low, and greatly com- 

 pressed. Outer coronal surface usually flattened, or usually considerably 

 less convex than inner surface, and sometimes a few basal vertical 

 wrinkles. Latter with surface evenly convex. Apex often deflected, 

 especially in lateral teeth. Cutting-edges finely and entirely serrated. 

 Basal cusp sometimes present, low, broad, lateral, variable. Eoot very 

 broad, deep, usually deeper than crown, compressed, surfaces slightly con- 

 vex or inner flattened and sloping down below trenchant, so that lower pro- 

 file is slightly emarginate. Ends of roots blunt, not produced. The lateral 

 teeth seem to differ only in having their apices deflected to one side. 

 Length reaches 30 mm." — Fowler, 1911. 



Teeth of this low and wide compressed type are common in the Middle 

 and Upper Cretaceous, and forms which have been referred to this species 

 have been recorded from North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. The 

 species appears to have been common during Upper Cretaceous time along 

 the east coast of North America. It ranges from the base of the Matawan 

 upward into the Manasquan marl in the New Jersey area. In Maryland it 

 occurs at several localities in the Matawan and Monmouth formations. 

 South of Maryland it has been reported from South Carolina, Alabama, 

 and Mississippi, where it is said to have come from the Eocene, but since 

 these records are all ancient little credence can be placed in the age deter- 

 mination, and there is little doubt but that they are entirely Cretaceous. 



Corax pristodontus is scarcely distinguishable from Corax falcatus 

 Agassiz, a slightly smaller form with more inclined laterals found in the 

 earlier Upper Cretaceous of America and Europe. 



Occurrence. — Matawan Formation. Magothy River, Anne Arundel 

 County. Monmouth Formation. Bohemia Mills, Cecil County; 

 Brooks estate near Seat Pleasant, Prince George's County. 



Collection. — Maryland Geological Survey. 



