An extinct shark or shark-like fish with teeth that had multiple sharp ridges or cusps arranged in a branching pattern.
From Greek 'klados' (branch) and 'odont' (tooth), literally meaning 'branched tooth.' Named by paleontologists who observed the distinctive multi-cusped tooth structure of these ancient fish.
Cladodont teeth are like tiny forks compared to modern shark teeth—their branched cusps were perfect for gripping slippery prey in ancient seas hundreds of millions of years ago, representing an early experiment in predatory tooth design.
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