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Jan 24, 2012 · Beltinge (Herne Bay) is one of the most popular locations for collecting sharks’ teeth in the UK, especially for international visitors. You can usually find teeth all year round, but this location is best visited during extremely low tides, such as spring tides.
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Beltinge (Herne Bay) is one of the most popular locations...
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- Megalodon Shark Tooth. The megalodon shark tooth is likely one of the most sought-after shark teeth. These massive teeth belong to the extinct megalodon that lived an estimated 23 to 3.6 million years ago.
- Great White Shark Tooth. As mentioned above, the tooth of a great white shark is quite similar to that of a megalodon in shape and symmetry. However, there are several important distinctions to note.
- Tiger Shark Tooth. The tiger shark has a highly distinctive tooth. Whereas many of the shark teeth you find will present a fairly symmetrical shape, the same cannot be said for this shark’s teeth.
- Lemon Shark Tooth. Of the sharks mentioned thus far, the lemon shark tooth has a fairly distinctive shape. It is not as symmetrical as the great white shark’s, nor as large as the megalodon’s.
- Overview
- Recognizing Shark Teeth on the Beach
- Identifying the Shark Species
- Determining the Age of Shark Teeth
A trip to the beach can be really fun, but even more so when you find a cool shark tooth to bring home. You may wonder how you can increase your chances of finding shark teeth at the beach. Or, once you find a tooth, you may wonder what kind of shark it came from or how old it is. Luckily, there are ways that you can find these things out.
Search for teeth at the tide line and the shoreline.
Go to the beach at low tide and look for the line of debris in the sand. Walk slowly along this tide line as you keep your eyes peeled for teeth. If the beach is busy, you might have more luck looking right where the waves are crashing into the shoreline so that you can snag teeth before others see them.
Every now and then, dig up some of the sand along the tide line and/or shoreline and search through it for teeth. While teeth can be found on the surface of the sand, they’re also often found underneath.
Sift through shells and sand to find shark teeth.
If there are a lot of shells in the areas where you search, it might be a good idea to grab a big pile of shells and sort through them. Scoop up some shells and dig up a little bit of sand that’s underneath. Put the shells and sand into a sifter and shake it. Then, take one object out at a time and observe it to see if it’s a tooth, a shell, or something else.
While it’s possible to find teeth where there aren’t a lot of shells and/or debris, you may have more luck in areas where shells and debris have collected.
Recognize white shark teeth by their broad, triangular shape.
If you have a shark tooth that’s flat and in the shape of a wide triangle, then you may have a white shark tooth on your hands.There should be coarse serrations along the blade of the tooth and it should also be about 1.5–2.5 inches (3.8–6.4 cm) long.
Identify tiger shark teeth by their short blades.
Tiger shark teeth blades are only about as long as their roots. They can also be identified by the sharp serrations on the shoulders of their blades and also by how deeply-notched their blades typically are.Tiger shark teeth are typically about 1 inch (2.5 cm) long, but they can sometimes be as long as 1.5–2 inches (3.8–5.1 cm).
Recognize bull shark teeth by their tapering serrations.
Bull shark teeth have blades that are flat and broad with a narrow apex. These teeth are usually 1 inch (2.5 cm) long or slightly shorter. While there are serrations along the entire blade, they get smaller and smaller further down the blade.
Identify fossilized teeth by their dark coloring.
Shark teeth contain oxygen, which can react with surrounding minerals to create colors over time. Fossilized shark teeth have had at least 10,000 years for this oxidation to take effect, so they’re often black, deep red, brown, grey, or another similar dark color. This varies based on the environment that the tooth has fossilized in, because different sediments contain minerals that create different colors through oxidization.
Shark teeth that are found in areas that contain iron oxide, such as parts of New Jersey, tend to have an orange or red coloring.
Shark teeth found in areas that contain a lot of phosphate, such as Venice Beach, Florida, tend to be black, as phosphate is a dense, black mineral.
Identify modern teeth by their lighter color.
Modern teeth haven’t yet been exposed to the minerals in surrounding sediments for the 10,000 years that it takes to cause oxidation. As a result, these teeth are typically white, and usually appear much like they did when they were in the mouth of the shark they came from.
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There are a number of common types of shark teeth, that vary according to the diet of the shark. Examples include dense flattened teeth for crushing; long needle-like teeth for gripping; pointed lower teeth for gripping combined with serrated, triangular upper teeth for cutting, and teeth that are tiny, greatly reduced, and non-functional. [8]
Shark teeth are typically made from enamel, which is one of the hardest substances found in nature. As such, they tend to be very durable and resistant to wear over time. An authentic shark’s tooth will show signs of wear and tear—even with careful handling—due to its age.
Apr 16, 2019 · Each species of shark has unique and distinct teeth that allow them to survive and thrive in their environment. Their teeth are designed to help catch and eat their specific prey. Learn more about the teeth of six different shark species. WHITE SHARK (Carcharodon carcharias)
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Identifying Shark Teeth. Even if you’re convinced the pearly white in your hand is a shark tooth, you’re not done investigating yet. There are tons of different kinds of sharks, all with varying shapes, colors, and teeth sizes. Some of the most popular shark teeth you can find are those of: Megalodons; Tiger sharks; Otodus sharks; Lemon sharks
