It lived during the mid Cretaceous (Albian-Cenomanian) with fossils being known from northern South America, North Africa, and southern Europe.

[2][3] Like other hybodonts, Tribodus had dorsal fin-spines and cephalic spines in male individuals.

[3] The teeth of Tribodus were specialised for durophagy (consuming hard shelled organisms).

They were small, less than 5 millimetres (3⁄16 in) across and polygonal with a low cusp, and collectively formed a flat pavement that was effective at grinding, similar to those of living myliobatoid rays.

Historically it has been asserted to be a member of the family Acrodontidae with other durophagous hybodonts, based on the presence of columnar osteodentine in its teeth.