|
|
GRADE 10 STEEL BLUE SILVER 5.3 INCH MEGALODON SHARK TOOTH Beaufort, South Carolina, U.S.A. MIOCENE to PLIOCENE PERIOD: 23.3 - 1.81 million years ago This GRADE 10 (highest grade) large fossil shark tooth is from the jaws of a huge Megalodon shark! This spectacular specimen is loaded with so many features desired by advanced Megalodon tooth collectors. Teeth like these are getting certainly harder to come by in today's market. Current and increasing future demand will never be satisfied by the dwindling numbers of the truly top grade 10 specimens such as this beauty, hence their constantly increasing prices each year. While most teeth of this size class are not very good quality, this specimen has every feature well-preserved. At 5.3 inches, this finest grade example is well beyond the FIVE INCH magic mark for Megalodon teeth. Anyone that collects Megalodon teeth knows that prices ramp up dramatically for teeth at this size mark similar to the popularity of "1 carat" when it comes to diamonds. The enamel is superb with chatoyant bluish silver tones and no peel or damage. The jet black bourlette is 100% present. The complete, full root is extremely well-preserved. Excellent serrations are present with light feeding wear as well as light natural feeding wear on the sharp tip. No doubt, this indicates this tooth saw numerous kills and meals while the shark was still hunting the Miocene-Pliocene seas of what is now Southeastern U.S.A.. Rare is the condition of the crown where it meets the root. Many teeth this size have breakage or severe damage to this delicate area but this is NOT the case with this specimen. This specimen has absolutely NO REPAIR AND NO RESTORATION. Megalodon teeth found in rivers are almost always heavily eroded and worn from the high energy environment in which they were subjected to. They usually have dull, sand-blasted enamel, peeling back from the core. The roots are often damaged and the color is almost always the boring, common black. This tooth is amongst THE FINEST Megalodon teeth found. While we strictly avoid teeth with restoration, Caveat emptor as several Megalodon teeth in dealers' inventories in this size class have SOME repair or restoration.
HUGE AND BEAUTIFUL FINEST GRADE TOOTH - EXCELLENT SERRATIONS AND CHATOYANT COLOR! 5.3" in length on the diagonal edge x 3.75" wide SOLD SH6-106 INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX Actual Item - One Only |
|
1650 |
At a length of 52 feet
and weighing in excess of 60 tons, Carcharocles megalodon was the second
largest predator that ever existed on this planet, the largest being the
sperm whale. Megalodon was larger and heavier than T. rex.
Scientific reconstructions of this shark estimate the dorsal fin 5.5
feet tall, the pectoral fins at 10 feet in length and the tail over 12
feet high. If you were unfortunate enough to have a megalodon swim
over you, the pectoral fins would measure 30 feet from tip to tip with a
torso in excess of 10 feet thick! The jaws were so large that
this shark would be able to swallow a Rhinoceros whole. A
predator this size would have most likely fed on large marine
vertebrates, especially whales. Fossil teeth have been found in
excess of 7 inches in length! Megalodon teeth are similar in
geometry to the modern White Shark and scientists are still passionately
divided on the origin of the two species and if megalodon is related to
the modern white shark. It is also not fully understood why this
giant killer became extinct but we can all be glad it is. A day at
the beach just wouldn't be what it is today!