Megalodon Shark Tooth — South Carolina

Otodus megalodon (formerly known as Carcharodon megalodon) was a giant prehistoric shark that roamed the open seas, armed with huge, serrated, razor-sharp teeth. The largest predatory shark ever to have lived, Otodus megalodon grew 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 m) in length, with estimated weights ranging between 40,000 and 120,000 pounds (18 to 54 metric tons).

Regardless of exact bodily dimensions, Otodus megalodon ranks among the largest predators ever to grace the face of the Earth. With a name meaning "big tooth" and a bite force more than double that of Tyrannosaurus rex, it is no wonder that Otodus megalodon is considered the greatest predatory fish of all time.

Like Tyrannosaurus rex, Otudus megalodon continually shed its lethal teeth and grew new ones throughout their lifetimes. The distinctive white coloration on the labial side of this tooth indicates a mollusk shell fused with the tooth either after the predator's death or after the tooth was discarded at some point in time, offering a snapshot of life in the deep.