Natural History
Natural History
Lot Closed
December 3, 07:21 PM GMT
Estimate
3,000 - 5,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
The Tooth of a Megalodon
Megaselachus megalodon
Early Pliocene (approx. 5 million years ago)
Georgia, United States
5 by 4 inches (12.5 x 9.5 cm).
This tooth features intact serrations, a lustrous black bourlette, a gunmetal gray root with hints of tan, and an enamel with hints of gray, green, and blue. Posterior side shows minor enamel damage.
Megaselachus megalodon (formerly known as Carcharodon megalodon) was a giant prehistoric shark which roamed the open seas, armed with giant, serrated, razor-sharp teeth. The largest predatory shark to have ever lived, 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, 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 T. rex, it's no wonder that Megalodon is considered the greatest predatory fish of all time.