Sand Tiger Shark Tooth (Fossilized)
Phylum: Chordata, Class: Chondrichthyes, Order: Lamniformes, Family: Odontaspididae, Genus: Carcharias, Species: Carcharias taurus · Odontaspididae (Sand Tiger Shark family) · Fossilized Shark Tooth (Vertebrate remain). Shape: Elongate, T-shaped, needle-like with a bifurcated root.
Species
Carcharias taurus (most likely, with 85% confidence)
Shell Type
Fossilized Shark Tooth (Vertebrate remain). Shape: Elongate, T-shaped, needle-like with a bifurcated root.
Family
Odontaspididae (Sand Tiger Shark family)
Size
Approximately 0.5 to 0.75 inches. This is a juvenile or mid-sized lateral tooth for the species; adults can produce teeth up to 1.5-2 inches.
Color & Pattern
Uniform dark charcoal to jet black coloration. This indicates fossilization where minerals (likely phosphate and manganese) replaced the original calcium. The surface appears smooth and slightly lustrous under the flash.
Rarity
Common. Sand Tiger teeth are among the most frequently found shark teeth by beachcombers along the South Carolina coast.
Habitat
Found on the beach, but originally inhabited coastal temperate and tropical waters. These sharks prefer shallow inshore waters, near-shore reefs, and shipwrecks.
Geographic Range
Found at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Globally, these sharks are found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. In SC, fossilized teeth from the Miocene and Pliocene epochs are frequently washed up from offshore deposits.
Description
A classic fossilized shark tooth characterized by a slender, sharp crown and a distinctively wide, U-shaped or V-shaped root. The blade is narrow and lacks serrations, tapering to a fine point. The root is robust compared to the thinness of the blade, featuring two distinct lobes.
Key Features
Narrow, needle-like crown; smooth edges (no serrations); deep U-shaped notch between root lobes; existence of small 'side cusplets' (though possibly worn down on this specific specimen); dark fossilized enamel.
Collector Value
Minimal monetary value ($1-$5) due to high frequency of finds, but high sentimental value for beachcombers. Excellent for beginners and educational collections.
Condition Notes
Fair to Good. The main blade (crown) appears largely intact, though the tip may have slight wear. The root lobes are present but show some typical beach erosion. Most importantly, the dark fossilization is well-preserved.
Interesting Facts
Sand Tigers are known as 'lounge lizards' of the shark world due to their slow movement. They are the only sharks known to gulp air from the surface to achieve neutral buoyancy. This tooth is likely thousands to millions of years old, having eroded out of underwater formations.
Ecological Role
Apex predator of the near-shore environment, controlling populations of bony fish and smaller sharks. As a fossil, it serves as a geological indicator of the coastal history of the Atlantic Southeastern shelf.
Similar Species
Lemon Shark (Negaprion brevirostris) teeth, which have a broader base and no side cusplets; or Goblin Shark (Mitsukurina owstoni) teeth, which are even more slender and striated.
Beach Finding Tips
Look in the 'shell hash' lines at low tide, especially after a storm. Focus on areas where black, shiny objects congregate. Use a sand sifter for better efficiency in the surf zone.
Notes
Myrtle Beach in SC, this is a shark tooth but can you tell me what shark it is from?