in 1858, geologist ebenezer emmons described two large fossil teeth found in bladen county, north carolina. emmons assigned these teeth to "polyptychodon", which he then believed to be "a genus of crocodilian reptiles". later discoveries showed that "polyptychodon" was actually a pliosaur, a type of marine reptile. the teeth described by emmons were thick, slightly curved, and covered with vertically grooved enamel; he assigned them a new species name, "p. rugosus". although not initially recognized as such, these teeth were probably the first "deinosuchus" remains to be scientifically described. another large tooth that likely came from "deinosuchus", discovered in neighboring sampson county, was named "polydectes biturgidus" by edward drinker cope in 1869.