fossil

Fossil Shark Tooth

Otodus sp. (possibly Otodus obliquus)

Hardness: 5 on Mohs scale; Color: Cream, tan, and white; Luster: Dull to waxy; Structure: Biogenic calcium phosphate (apatite) replaced by minerals; Shape: Triangular blade with lateral cusplets and a thick root bed.

Hardness: 5 on Mohs scale
Color: Cream, tan, and white
Luster: Dull to waxy

Identified July 18, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through permineralization where original bone/enamel material is replaced by minerals in marine sediments. This specimen likely dates to the Paleocene or Eocene epochs (approx. 40-60 million years ago).

Uses & applications

Primarily used as a collectible item, educational specimen, or in jewelry such as necklaces and pendants.

Geological facts

Shark teeth are the most common shark fossils because sharks lose thousands of teeth throughout their lives and their cartilaginous skeletons rarely fossilize. Otodus was a prehistoric mackerel shark and a relative of the famous Megalodon.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its distinctive triangular crown and the presence of small 'ear-like' cusplets at the base of the main blade. Commonly found in phosphate mines in Morocco and along the Atlantic coastal plains of the USA.

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