Thank you for reading! Megalodon sharks lived from about 18 million years ago to around 1.5 million years ago. Megalodons had enormous teeth that grew up to seven inches in length. These razor sharp teeth were used to attack and devour ancient whales. In general, all shark teeth are highly evolved, being perfectly adapted for the shark's prey. Megalodon teeth have been discovered in several locations across North America, most notably along the depths of streams in Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina, among other places. In a blog post, Fred Mazza of FossilHuntingTours and Paleo Discoveries writes megalodon teeth have been found in every state along the East Coast of the U.S., from New Jersey to Florida. To hunt for the best teeth, youll probably need to get wet. Share. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Near Waco, Texas is a great spot for finding shark teeth and other fossils. If you want to know what you're finding, companies like Mid-Atlantic Fossil and Nature Adventures offer fossil-hunting trips guided by real paleontologists. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. The best place to find high-quality megalodon teeth is by diving to the bottom of local rivers and bays,where teeth eroded from the sedimentary rock can readily be picked up. Bone Valley (Central), Florida: The Bone Valley is a region of central Florida which encompasses portions of present-day Hardee, Hillsborough, Manatee, and Polk counties, in which phosphate is mined for use in the production of agricultural fertilizer. Scientists Discover Enormous Sharks in Mammoth Cave Yes, Sharks! You may be lucky and find some unearthed fossils. However, before you head off, you should know that all fossils in Chile are now protected by law, and removal from the country is illegal. Elliott shared that on land during this period, "the most important vertebrates were the synapsids (pre-mammals) that included animals such as Dimetrodon." It is not unheard of for Megalodon teeth to be found. Their mouths were lined with 276 teeth, some as big as 18cm long, according to the U.K.'s Natural History Museum. While shark teeth are the big catch, keep an eye out for other cool items like stingray, porpoise, or crocodile teeth. The megalodon (Otodus megalodon) is the biggest shark species ever to have lived. For now, lead author John-Paul Hodnett described the three mentioned in the latest study: Nanoskalme natans ("swimming dwarf blade") was a small (about 3.2-foot- long) shark with blade-like cutting teeth. The orange, green, multicolored, and black teeth with white roots are usually considered to be more on the rare side and tend to be pricier. It also explained why there are a plethora of teeth continually discovered, saying: "Almost all fossil remains of megalodon are teeth. He unearthed it at a construction site in South Carolina. Just make the arrangements way ahead of time so you dont have anything to worry about upon arrival. Of course, youll also be collecting them like crazy if you give it a shot. Measuring 7 inches (18.42 cm) long, it was found by fossil hunter Vito Bertucci, who was known as the Megalodon Man.. The deposits that produce shark teeth on the Suwannee are either late Eocene or early Oligocene. The best chances appear to be from diving in calm bays. So what is the best place to find Megalodon teeth? Megalodon tooth fossils have been unearthed in many other countries too, such as the Philippines. Fossilized teeth have been discovered on every continent except for Antarctica. So finding megalodon teeth from this river are extremely rare. If youre caught trespassing within the mines, you get a hefty fine and get sent to jail. Megalodon fossils occasionally wash up on the beach itself, so you can take a walk along the tideline and hope to spot something. You: I found this amazing fossil! The number of megalodon teeth discovered in the Tar Heel State even led to it declaring the megalodon tooth as its state fossil back in 2013. The waters edge is one of the best places to look since it will show teeth that have freshly washed up. Sift through the sediment to see what you find. Reading Suggestion: Does Folly Beach Have Sharks? However, its still possible, with a local guide, to find incredible locations. However, all is not lost, as the Aurora Fossil Museum has an incredible collection of local megalodon fossils. Teeth found locally can be seen on display at the Horry County Museum. Every one to two weeks, sharks constantly lose a set of teeth. Coming in at three pounds and measuring roughly 6.45 inches, the tooth is seen in photos dwarfing a human hand. Every continent has been known to unearth Megalodon teeth, except Antarctica. With the seemingly endless creeks that branch off of the peace, the possibilities of finding a megalodon tooth from this location can be pretty good. ), How Much Is Jasper Worth? Last Updated: February 15, 2022 It is 5.4" wide and sharply serrated with a beautiful bourlette and rock solid root. Megalodon teeth that come from this location usually have a wide variety of colors that range from blues, blacks, grays, oranges, greens, and even white. You can also find Megalodon teeth in the banks of the Morgan and Cooper Elliott told Discovery News that a shallow, warm sea covered this part of Arizona at the time. The researchers have discovered many other new shark species from the area, with papers in the works to document them. Its also one of the best-cataloged places, so youll find plenty of local experience to tap. Dumped spoil dredged from the Savannah River since the 1800s is full of shark teeth. The sharks were unearthed at what is known as the Kaibab Formation of northern Arizona. However, there are many opportunities to find megalodon remains in excellent condition in this state. Savannah, Georgia: Teeth that come from this location can only be found while diving. Fossil megalodon shark teeth are found all over the world. This may sound like a lot, but some sharks have as many as 15 rows of teeth in each jaw and can grow lost ones back in just one day. 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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. Identify modern teeth by their lighter color. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. So, not only is cenote diving exhilarating, but it could also reward you with a perfectly preserved megalodon tooth. If youre in Texas and looking for where to find shark teeth, then read on and well break down some of the best places in the state to look! Jeffrey Heim's megalodon tooth. Visibility can be close to zero, and there can be strong currents. The depth that these teeth are found at can range from 30 feet to 80 feet with an average visibility range of just a few inches. Train your eyes tolook for the distinctive triangular shape of the megalodon tooth. Sources: The Fossil Forum,Cathy Young of Mid-Atlantic Fossil and Nature Adventures. Megalodon teeth are relatively common fossils because sharks produce so many of them. It was probably a scavenger and predator on small fish. ", Lalamermaid27 added: "Ok that's worth fighting a gator for. Some people rate the rivers in South Carolina as the best locations for finding megalodon teeth. However, diving here isnt for beginners. A lot of people plan day trips here for just that reason. As an additional plus? One month later, I was back diving and was lucky enough to find a profound megalodon tooth: a coveted six incher since named: The Redemption Tooth. What Is the Biggest Megalodon Tooth Ever Found. Farther back from the edge, theres been plenty of time for the sand to cover the teeth, making them much harder to notice. Sign up with your email address to receive updates on new inventory, sales, and new blog content. To learn how to determine the age of a shark by looking at its tooth, scroll down! Another great place is just across a bit of ocean from Galveston. Western Australia has been a fantastic place to discover megalodon teeth. This size is more than three times longer than the biggest great white shark ever recorded. Shark Tooth Islandis reached by boat, and once youve arrived, its possible to discover megalodon remains lying in the mud. Then its just time to find them in the bucket. Jeremy is a professional writer, but his real passion lies with stones. So, make sure you follow the rules carefully and dont end up getting your fossil teeth confiscated. ", "It helped me find a meg tooth yesterday!". While our bones are coated in the mineral calcium phosphate, shark skeletons are made entirely from softer cartilage like our nose and ears.". If youre looking for where to find fossilized shark teeth, you wont go wrong in the area thats appropriately named Shark Tooth Hill near Bakersfield. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. They may be found in creeks and beaches. In some cases, you may be able to find a Megalodon tooth but this isnt the primary area for them. The Largest Great White Sharks Ever Found, Powerful Great White Shark Swims Straight Into, Discover How Killer Whales Squeeze Out Great, The 8 Best Childrens Books About Sharks Available Today, The 10 Best Books About Sharks Reviewed and Ranked, five times the bite force of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, Real Life Jaws Spotted 30ft Great White Shark By Boat, The Largest Great White Sharks Ever Found Off Florida Waters, The 7 Most Aggressive Sharks in the World, Shark Quiz - 30,290 People Couldn't Ace This Quiz, Watch a Bird Escape a Great White Shark by Pooping In Its Face, Watch a Great White Shark Stalk a Child on a Boogie Board. WebThe best places to collect Megalodon teeth in South Carolina are the sands and gravels of Atlantic beaches like Myrtle Beach, Folly Beach, and Edistoo Beach. It paid off as he recently stumbled upon the "best" find of his lifea fossilized tooth nearly as big as his hand, from one of the most fearsome predators of the sea. As weve seen, you can find shark teeth almost anywhere theres been coastal water. Where to Find Fossils in Texas (5 Must Visit Sites! Megalodon Quick Facts. The largest Megalodon tooth ever found is 7.48 inches though teeth over 6 inches are very rare. The largest great white teeth were less than 3 inches. Megalodon teeth are measured on the slant, using the longest side as the length. Megalodon's and all sharks shed their teeth frequently during their lifetime's as they grew Basak is a tour guide at Palmetto Fossil Excursions, a group that offers guided fossil-hunting tours. Reading Suggestion: Do Orca Killer Whales Eat Moose? The biggest Megalodon teeth that have been recorded measures 7 inches long, which is nearly three times longer than the longest modern white shark teeth, which generally extends to about 2.1 inches long. Alternatively, if you find a tooth that's slightly angled with no serrations, there's a chance it's a lemon shark tooth. Some of the biggest are around 6.4 inches, and many have been found in either North or South Carolina. Currently, the most expensive one on the website is The state also has a number of other quarries and rivers where marine fossils can be found. John Maisey, curator and research chair of the Division of Paleontology at the American Museum of Natural History, told Discovery News, "The real significance of the paper is in revealing the considerable diversity shown by these top predators shortly before their disappearance at the end of the Permian. 1.2K. You never know what you may find! This is simply an exceptional tooth and you won't find another like it! He shared a clip to his TikTok account @wildernessjeff, showing him on the seabed when he finds the incredible relic, which can be seen here. Teeth have been found in states such as California , Florida, Georgia, South Their teeth can reach a diagonal length of seven inches! Its believed that the park was once a nursery ground for megalodon juveniles which explains why they can find so many teeth here. Miners are looking for megalodon teeth, thanks to their high resale value. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.