How to Identify Shark Teeth

Whether it is a jet black recent shark's tooth or mammoth fossilized specimen, searching for and finding sharks teeth can be quite a thrill. Learning how to identify shark's teeth, however, can prove to be quite a challenge. Not only are there some 370 species of modern sharks and countless species that have come and gone, the teeth vary so much in shape depending on where in the mouth the tooth came from that the problem is greatly compacted. However, there are a few basic tips that can help you zero in on an approximate identification. Here is a rough field guide on how to identify shark teeth.

Sand Tiger Shark Tooth

Sand tiger shark teeth are fairly common and can be identified by their long, curve root that comes to a very sharp point. The underside of this curved tooth may be serrated near the root. Unlike most other shark teeth, these extend out in a long thin root that is pretty easy to pick out once you know what to look for.

Tiger Shark Tooth

Tiger sharks have a large curved root that curves sharply along the crown, revealing smaller serrated cusps underneath that act as a saw. They are shorter and more curved than sand tiger shark teeth.

Cow Shark Tooth

Cow shark teeth are comparably easy to identify. They consist of individual cusps that are often found still connected in a line from larger to smaller, and each of the cusps are quite serrated.

Megaladon Shark Tooth

Megaladon shark teeth are big granddaddies of shark's teeth and are often found in huge proportions. They have a thick, solid root with a broad, symmetrical tooth that tapers down to a blunt, thick point. The root usually tapers down in the middle of the tooth for a stretch.

Grey Shark Tooth

Grey shark teeth are long and curved like those of the sand tiger shark, but these usually have a smaller cusp protruding from the left and the right of the root along the crown.

Learning how to identify shark teeth down to the general category of shark isn't to tough if you follow these general classification tips, but it is considerably easier if you use the many photo libraries of shark teeth available online to become visually familiar with the basic features.

Sources:

http://www.elasmo-research.org/education/evolution/guide.htm
http://mysite.verizon.net/browniebeach/sharks.html
http://www.buriedtreasurefossils.com/M_Shark_Catalog%20_1.htm
http://www.lowcountrygeologic.com/FossilSharkTeeth/Abdouniabeaugi/tabid/53/fossil/1197/Default.aspx