Fossilized Tooth from the Largest Shark that Ever Lived! *pics*

[Removed_2815]

Hello all,
This is an interest of mine that I have not yet brought up on the forum. It's kind of a geeky quirk of mine but I collect fossil shark teeth. I thought I would post some pics of a shark tooth that was once the killing tool of the largest shark that ever lived (and arguably the largest marine predator that ever lived): the Megalodon!
This tooth is from Carcharocles megalodon (the specific epithet literally means "giant tooth"). Scientists argue over the exact measurements that this elasmobranch attained, however, the range seems to be between 50 and 100 feet (15.24 - 30.48 m) long! This is about three to five times larger than the modern Great White Shark.
Carcharocles megalodon was the supreme predator in the oceans from roughly 25 to 1.6 million years ago, during the Miocene and Pliocene epochs.
This particular tooth (just short of 5 inches) has been carbon-dated and is approximately 3-7 million years old. It is from the Hawthorne Formation - Morgan River, South Carolina.
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Megriker.jpg
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Megruler.jpg
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Meginhand.jpg
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Megseration.jpg
You can still cut yourself on the serrations!
Just imagine what kind of beasts this tooth was slicing through 5 million years ago...
Cheers,
Ryan

[Kara]

Thats crazy!!!! Would not have liked to be the unfortunate victim to that guy, however!! If it was that big and the prey smaller, then maybe it just got swallowed whole! Either way, sucks to be the one getting eaten!

[peterm15]

wow absoutly amazing... i have one ?... you dont have to answer if you dont want... but how much is that thing worth... its gotta be a pretty penny......

if you were ever to get "rid " of it would u sell it or give it to a museum...

[Davey213]

Strange that they died out.. Great white sharks don't seem to have any trouble surviving. Strange that something with even less predators to worry about became extinct. Have scientists developped of theorie explaining why they have gone extinct? If so what it is?

[Katt]

Probably whatever, the shark was eating went extinct. Or maybe they are hiding in the Mariana Trench?

[Scales Zoo]

Very nice shark tooth specimen - usually any you see that size are not near that nice. I collect shark megaladon shark teeth, and also sell some smaller megaladon teeth, as well as other fossilized or not yet fossilized teeth at scales and at travelling shows (plain, in rings and on necklaces).

I know of someone seriously looking for a shark tooth as nice as that, or as nice and larger. He's turned down everything I've showed to him so far (including pictures of really nice ones), he's waiting to spend lots of money on a real perfect one.

Ryan

[JAdkins2451]

How would you come about on of those.

[CamHanna]

I've said it to you before; that's some nice dentition! I was looking at megalodon teeth in a gift shop a while ago and none were nearly that impressive. I've only got one toothe, an extinct goblin shark I believe. I looked up the species some time ago but have since forgotten.

I seem to remember reading that megalodon went extinct when their smallish whale prey died off. That may be incorrect though as I haven't done any reading on them lately.

What other teeth do you have?

[BOAS_N_PYTHONS]

RMBOLTON:

Wow amazing.

I think I recently saw a shark show about these giants.

LOL....Imagaine the tooth fairy and the treasure under the pillow on those teeth :D

Tony

[Holy Mackerel]

Tony,

I'm not sure if we're talking about the same show, but discovery channel holds shark week from time to time, and air a really cool show in 3D (if you have the proper glasses) about megalodon.

It's definitely a very cool show!

[Removed_2815]

Originally posted by CamHanna
I seem to remember reading that megalodon went extinct when their smallish whale prey died off. That may be incorrect though as I haven't done any reading on them lately.

I think a lot of paleontological research is largely based on conjecture and educated speculation, but it seems reasonable to me that this may be why megalodon was an evolutionary dead-end. I recall in a 4th year conservation biology course that we were taught 10 characteristics that make a species more prone to extinction, and, of course, a specialized diet is right up there. I know that megalodon is reported to have fed primarily on whales. So, if a specific whale made up the diet, and that whale went extinct for some reason, megalodon would soon follow. They sure did rule the ocean for a long time though.

Originally posted by CamHanna
What other teeth do you have?
I have a very crude lineage of all the teeth from the sharks that led to the megalodon: Cretolamna appendiculata, Otodus obliqus, Carcharocles auriculatus, Carcharocles angustidens, and Carcharocles megalodon. I will soon acquire Carcharocles chubutensis, the immediate ancestor to megalodon and descendant of angustidens.
I also have a lineage of shark teeth from Cretolamna appendiculata to Carcharodon carcharias (the Great White). I have a beautifully fossilized 2.2" serrated purple Chilean Carcharodon carcharias tooth.
I will post pics of all the teeth in the megalodon line within the next week so people can see the evolution at work (from the loss of cusplets to the subsequent development of serrations....).
Cheers,
Ryan

[Removed_2815]

Originally posted by peterm15
but how much is that thing worth... its gotta be a pretty penny......

if you were ever to get "rid " of it would u sell it or give it to a museum...
Well, in my mind, these fossils are priceless, and I am always amazed that I can just "purchase" something like this. It does have a price, however, and it varies. I paid what it's worth to me, but it may differ between people. How's that for vague? ;)
I don't think I'll ever get rid of my fossil teeth...

Originally posted by Scales Zoo
I collect shark megaladon shark teeth
Glad I'm not the only fossil geek on here...

Cheers,
Ryan

[Removed_2815]

Originally posted by JAdkins2451
How would you come about on of those.
They are occasionally unearthed; especially nice ones are usually found when mining for phosphate. Recreational and commercial divers are also able to find them in various geological sedimentation deposits in rivers and oceans...
Ryan

[chas*e]

It is amazing looking tooth...was a great looking critter too....This is when you listen to the "NO SWIMMING" sign.