 They derived the generic name "Cartorhynchus" from the Greek words "kartos" (καρτοσ, "shortened") and "rinchios" (ρηψνχηοσ, "snout"), and the specific name "lenticarpus" from the Latin words "lentus" ("flexible") and "carpus" ("wrist").Both names refer to anatomical characteristics that it would have had in life.The specimen was thought to be toothless until an isolated tooth was discovered during further attempts to remove rock from between the closed jaws.