tridens

Tridens is a term derived from Latin, meaning “three-toothed” or “three-toothed-shaped.” It combines tri- (three) and dens (tooth). In scholarly texts it is used as a descriptive descriptor, not as a formal taxonomic grouping.

Biology and paleontology: The epithet tridens appears in some species descriptions to indicate a three-toothed margin or dentition pattern on an organism’s body, shell, or leaf. In many fields, the more common descriptor for such morphology is tridentate.

Botany and heraldry: In botany, the term may describe leaves with three teeth along the margin or three-lobed shapes. In heraldry, Latin descriptors can appear to denote a three-toothed crest or charge, though tridens is not standard heraldic terminology.

Taxonomic usage: Tridens can appear as a proper name in historical classifications or as the name of a genus in older or obscure records; such uses are not widely recognized in current systematics.

See also: Trident, Tridentate, Dens.