The Orectolobiforms are a diverse group today, with members ranging from small bottom feeders (e.g. Hemiscyllids, Bamboo Sharks, see below) to enormous filter feeders (i.e., Rhincodon, the Whale Shark).  The Chalk taxa are small sharks, exhibiting a range of unusual and distinctive clutching / grasping tooth morphologies, all very small to microscopic.  Tooth forms can be generally characterised as crown dominated, with radially orientated cusps.  Some forms such as Chiloscyllium are very abundant in the Newhaven Chalk.

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1).  Representative isolated microscopic Orectolobiform teeth: (A) Orectoloboides sp., x50, Albian, Gault Clay of Folkestone, David Ward Collection; (B) Orectoloboides parvulus, x53, Albian, Gault Clay of Folkestone; (C) Plicatoscyllium sp., x9.3, Norwick, Willett Collection, Booth Museum, BMB 007317, by kind permission of John Cooper.  Images (A, B) by kind permission of David Ward.  See also www.gaultammonite.co.uk [Fossils of the Gault Clay]. 

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2).  Cederstroemia sp.? -  Labial views of isolated laterals of a form with a Squatina-like morphology, with a central 'pendant' of enamaloid hanging over the root and no accessory cusps: (A) x12, Willett Collection, Booth Museum, BMB 011239, by kind permission of John Cooper); (B) x9.5, Willett Collection, Booth Museum, BMB 007321, by kind permission of John Cooper).

3).  Cantioscyllium decipiens - Ventral (underside) overview of the completely unique type specimen, with a near complete set of calcified originally-cartilaginous skeletal elements of the head (mandibular  and hyoid arches) and anterior portion of the trunk.  The pectoral arch  straddles the vertebral column on the right of the figure (x0.85, Grey Chalk, Blue Bell Hill, Burham, Kent, NHMUK (British Museum (Natural History) London) PV P.5890).  Image © 2012 The Natural History Museum, by kind permission.

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6).  Modern Orectolobids for illustration - Hemiscyllids (Longtail Carpet Sharks / bamboo Sharks): (A) Brownbanded Bamboo Shark (Chiloscyllium punctatum); (B) Epaulette Shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum).  (images sourced from Wikipedia).