sedimentary

Fossilized Shark Tooth

Otodus obliquus (Mackerel Shark)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 5 on Mohs scale; Color: Tan to cream with white matrix; Luster: Vitreous/shiny enamel, dull root; Structure: Tricuspid with a central cusp and lateral denticles; Bone-like porosity in root.

Hardness: 5 on Mohs scale
Color: Tan to cream with white matrix
Luster: Vitreous/shiny enamel, dull root

Identified May 6, 2026More sedimentary →

Explore Fossilized Shark Tooth in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 5 on Mohs scale; Color: Tan to cream with white matrix; Luster: Vitreous/shiny enamel, dull root; Structure: Tricuspid with a central cusp and lateral denticles; Bone-like porosity in root.

Formation & geological history

Formed through permineralization within marine sedimentary layers during the Paleocene and Eocene epochs (approximately 40 to 60 million years ago) in the Tethys Ocean.

Uses & applications

Primarily used for educational collections, jewelry (pendants), and historical displays. Significant for paleontological study of prehistoric marine ecosystems.

Geological facts

Otodus obliquus is often considered the ancestor of the Megalodon. These teeth are frequently found embedded in large chunks of phosphate or limestone matrix known as 'bone beds'.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its triangular shape, smooth enamel, and distinctive side cusplets. Commonly found in phosphate mines in Morocco (Khouribga) and coastal regions with exposed Eocene strata.