Toxoprion was one of the many
Carboniferous eugeneodonts which bore a palatoquadrate fused to its skull or reduced in other forms, and had its heavily serrated teeth grow outwards on the
symphysis of the lower jaw similar to a rounded saw. Despite its jaw showing similarities to another
eugeneodont,
Helicoprion, the tooth row of
Toxoprion does not coil back on itself, as seen in
Helicoprion, but instead forms a downward curved tooth whorl similar to
Campyloprion,
Lestrodus, and
Edestus. As in most members of
eugeneodontida, the smaller teeth found near the anterior end of the whorl represent the oldest teeth, which the animal grew as a juvenile and the larger and younger teeth found near the back of the whorl represent teeth grown in adulthood. An interesting distinction of Toxoprion are that its older anterior teeth typically appear more rounded than the younger and sharper teeth near the back of its whorl. This may represent damage from feeding or may signify a change in diet and/or feeding strategy with age. ==Taxonomy==