Megalodon Shark Tooth 97mm

Megalodon is known for being one of the largest and most powerful predators in vertebrate history. Megalodon 'Carcharodon', had a profound impact on the marine world of the prehistoric oceans, from the Miocene to the pliocene epoch’s (the Neogene period). In the time of the late pliocene, Megalodon's prey was believed to be ancient miniature whales called Piscobalaena nana and large seals.

The question of why such a proficient and powerful hunter should have become extinct has recently had a piece of the puzzle unearthed. The miniature whale P. nana lived in warm coastal waters, they became extinct around the same time as Megalodon, in fact around 400,000 years after the whales extinction Megalodon left the fossil record. At around that time some three million years ago, a glacial freeze caused water temperatures and sea levels to drop, it is believed causing the miniature whale to become ewxtinct.

In their place, larger whales that were better adapted to colder waters came to dominate. Megalodon could not compete with these larger cetaceans, also the leviathans would migrate to the poles where Megalodon was ill equipped to deal with freezing temperatures and could not possibly follow. The research has been taken from the study of bones from the fossil remains of miniature whales and seals, displaying bite marks of the Megalaodon teeth, suggesting these marine cetaceans were the sharks main source of prey and not as previously thought the larger whales.

Megalodon reaching a maximum length of 16 to 18 metres, approximately 52 to 59 ft, it's closest living resemblance of today is the Great White shark, 'Carcharodon carcharias', however fossil Megalodon remains suggest it's structure was stockier than that of the modern day Gt.White sharks.

The greatest weapon were the 250 teeth in the enormous jaws, so it's no surprise to see many of them around, however to find teeth of a rare and desirable quality is proving more difficult, with divers having to search further and longer, which brings more challenges, longer dives and more expense. It's no surprise that the price of good teeth keeps ahead of inflation. All our selections are of high quality, with very good enamel preservation. Found in the Beaufort county of South Carolina, USA and other locations and dating back to the Miocene epoch.