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GRADE
10 FANGED 5.2 INCH MEGALODON
SHARK TOOTH
Suwannee River - Georgia, U.S.
MIOCENE
to PLIOCENE PERIOD: 23.3 - 1.81 million years ago
This
SUPREME 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.
Megalodon teeth of this quality and size are getting 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 Megalodon teeth
dealers boast of themselves being the "first" or the "biggest" or the
"best", seldom do they offer teeth of this quality. Just browse
their inventories. Average quality teeth sell for average prices -
premium quality teeth sell for premium prices.
This
is a GRADE 10 COLLECTOR QUALITY Megalodon tooth. It is a very
large upper jaw tooth right from the front of the jaw. As the
lower teeth served to hold prey, the broad upper teeth acted like meat
saws, shearing off huge chunks of flesh from the Megalodon's victims.
At 5.2 inches, this choice 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.
Five inch teeth are HIGHLY DESIRABLE by collectors when they are of the
quality like this specimen. While most teeth of this size class are not very good quality, this
specimen has every feature well-preserved. In addition, there is a
unique anatomy to this tooth that baffles researchers - it is FANGED,
that is, when viewed from the side, it curves in an S manner rather than
being straight or singly curved. It is not known if this is a
pathological deformity or an evolved feature of the Megalodon.
This feature is seen on large teeth on occasion, but not often. The
enamel of this tooth is a beautiful sea foam greenish blue with subtle
cream patterns. The enamel is superb in a lustrous natural finish
and is set off by a jet black bourlette that is also well preserved. The complete,
full root is remarkably well preserved and dense and is unusually flat
for a tooth this size which adds to the interesting appeal of this
specimen. The streamlined root and odd fanged curvature give this
beautiful Megalodon tooth a sinister yet, graceful appearance. Serrations are
sharp and intact with only very light natural feeding wear caused when
the shark was alive. The tip is needle sharp with a very minor bit
of feeding wear from countless meals. Rare is the condition of the crown where it meets
the root. Many teeth this size have breakage or missing portions to
this delicate area but this is NOT the case with this specimen and this
is shown in the above close-up images of this region.
Tooth is intact. This specimen has absolutely
NO
REPAIR AND NO RESTORATION. Definitely, a tooth of a
caliber rarely seen today with unique and highly aesthetic features.
A highly desirable large specimen EXCEEDING 5 inches!
Finest grade
Megalodon teeth are some of the most promising investment fossils.
Their demand continues to grow strongly and the few regions that such
quality teeth are found are now either off-limits to public collecting or
have been heavily collected out over the past decade to feed such demand in the market. These teeth are the
rarest and foster incredible collector demand far in excess of their
availability. Even amongst dealers, many dealers personally collect
teeth and usually keep the best specimens they acquire, selling off the
more common ones and lesser quality ones for substantially less than the
"BEST" specimens. Unlike
nearly every other Megalodon shark tooth dealer, we sell EVERY
tooth we acquire and our primary focus over the years has been to stick
with only the best and most unique Megalodon teeth. These teeth come
at a price, though, and every year, they go up. The SLIGHTEST positive
features and unique coloration, etc., can radically up the value.
Conversely, the SLIGHTEST NEGATIVE features can radically DECREASE the
value and price of a Megalodon tooth. If
you want the best or most unusual, the premium price is well worth it and
what seems like a full price today will be an unbeatable bargain tomorrow
as the market continues to escalate for the premium Megalodon teeth.
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.
This tooth is amongst THE
FINEST Megalodon teeth typically found.
While we strictly avoid
Megalodon teeth with restoration or repair, Caveat emptor as
some
Megalodon teeth in many dealers' inventories in the larger sizes and
"seemingly" fine qualities have repair or restoration and this is not
often disclosed to the buyer accurately either because of
ignorance or dishonesty.
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!
SUPER GRADE 10 IMPRESSIVE GIANT TOOTH WITH UNCOMMON FANG CURVATURE TO
BLADE!
5.2" in
length on the diagonal edge
SOLD
SH6-111
INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX Actual
Item - One Only
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