Name/Title
Megalodon Shark Tooth (Otodus megalodon)Description
Megalodon Shark Tooth
Otodus megalodon
Miocene
Morgan River, South Carolina, United States
This exceptionally large fossil tooth of Otodus megalodon emphasizes both the scale and visual impact of the species. Megalodon was the largest predatory shark known to have existed, dominating global oceans during the Miocene Epoch and preying on large marine mammals, including early whales.
The tooth exhibits the classic megalodon morphology: a broad, triangular crown with fine serrations along the cutting edges, designed for slicing through thick flesh and bone. The dense, expansive root reflects the immense bite forces generated by the animal. Prominent vertical striations on the enamel and the sharp boundary between crown and root are well preserved, while dark coloration indicates mineralization within marine sediments.
Specimens from the Morgan River region are recovered from submerged Miocene deposits that once formed shallow coastal seas along the southeastern United States. As sharks continuously shed and replaced their teeth throughout life, isolated teeth such as this are the most common—and most dramatic—fossil remains of megalodon.
Catalog annotation: Root surface flattened to allow upright display.Create Date
August 3, 2025Update Date
February 25, 2026
