Natural History, including Gorgosaurus
Natural History, including Gorgosaurus
Megalodon Shark Tooth — West Java
No reserve
Auction Closed
July 28, 03:27 PM GMT
Estimate
4,000 - 5,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Megalodon Shark Tooth — West Java
Otodus megalodon
Early Pliocene (approx. 5 million years ago)
Sukabumi District, West Java, Indonesia
5½ by 4¼ inches (14 x 10.8 cm). 6½ inches (16.5 cm) tall on custom stand.
This natural tan-colored tooth is from an upper jaw position as indicated by the compressed root with wide lobes. The lingual bulge shows the nutrient groove and foramina clearly. The enamel crown including tip and cutting edges are beautifully preserved. All serrations are sharp and on one cutting edge a small natural chip is present. The tooth's crown displays a colorful palette of orange, sienna, ochre, and bluish-gray earth tones.
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.