Natural History, including Gorgosaurus
Natural History, including Gorgosaurus
No reserve
Auction Closed
July 28, 03:27 PM GMT
Estimate
6,000 - 8,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Megalodon Shark Tooth — North Carolina
Otodus megalodon
Early Pliocene (approx. 5 million years ago)
PCS Mine, Lee Creek, Aurora, North Carolina
5⅞ by 4½ inches (15 x 11.4 cm). 7⅛ inches (18.1 cm) tall on custom stand.
Large, ivory-cream colored tooth from the front (anterior) upper jaw position as indicated by the symmetry and wide lobes on the compressed root. The surface enamel on both sides have a nicely formed ripple pattern, and the tip is complete showing little wear. Serrations on the cutting edges are sharp, also with little wear. The lingual bulge shows the nutrient groove and foramina clearly. Accompanied by a custom metal stand.
Otodus megalodon (formerly known as Carcharodon megalodon) was a giant prehistoric shark which roamed the open seas, armed with huge, serrated, razor-sharp teeth. The largest predatory shark to have ever lived, Otodus megalodon was up to three times the size of its closest living relative, the modern great white shark. Because estimates are based solely on teeth and fragmentary vertebral remains, upper size limits of this apex carnivore range from 40 to 60 feet (12 to 18 meters) in length, with estimated weights ranging between 20 and 60 tons.
Regardless of exact bodily dimensions, Otodus megalodon ranks amongst the largest predators to ever grace the face of the Earth. With a name meaning "big tooth" and a bite force more than double that of a Tyrannosaurus rex, it's no wonder that Otodus megalodon is considered the greatest predatory fish of all time.
