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MEGALODON TOOTH - Bone Valley Formation - Central Florida, U.S. MIOCENE to PLIOCENE PERIOD: 23.3 - 1.81 million years ago From the Bone Valley Region of Central Florida, U.S., this spectacular fossil tooth is of the famous, giant Carcharodon megalodon shark. Megalodon teeth from Bone Valley are considered to be the most beautiful in the world. Compared to the ugly black and dark brown crud-stained Meg teeth found in rivers, Bone Valley specimens have white or very light roots and enamel in a rainbow of colors. This is a result of the unique chemistry of the sediments in Bone Valley. OK, take a deep breath. Yes, this ranks as THE most perfect Bone Valley Meg tooth we have ever encountered - quite a remarkable feature considering this site is known especially for its worn and damaged specimens more than any other world site. If this were a diamond, it would be as unique as the blue Hope Diamond as far as rarity in its color, condition and lack of feeding wear - especially for a tooth in this size. The shark this tooth came from would most likely have been about 25 feet long, a creature that needed to constantly feed to sustain such a size. A tooth from such a predator is very rare to not display some wear but this magnificent example shows not a single serration missing!!! Difficult to describe in its color and pattern but image #9 and #10 above show the mesmerizing close-up grain color detail and glow that emanates from enamel that has no equal. Limitless original gloss which is natural (BEWARE - MANY DEALERS COAT THEIR MEG TEETH TO MAKE THEM SHINE). If you know teeth from this source, you will immediately realize how RARE this kind of condition and color is. The bourlette is 100% complete and perfect. Light nick on root lobe in no way detracts and root of a RARE, VERY DENSE nature compared to the typical cracked and eroded condition. Absolutely NO REPAIR and NO RESTORATION. No matter how many teeth you would have from this locality, this one should not be passed on. It is a pure gem and truly in a class of its own! Megalodon teeth tend to run smaller from Bone Valley and it is theorized that this warm shallow marine environment rich in food source was a nursery for the Carcharodon megalodon shark. The larger adults would not have been able to swim into the shallow water and there was an abundance of small whales in the area. The fact that these fossil teeth run smaller than the bigger, black river specimens in no way detracts from their value. Bone Valley specimens are very rare and highly-prized by collectors. A megalodon tooth from Bone Valley is simply the most beautiful fossil tooth of this extinct monster one can acquire.
From the middle Miocene, 16 million years ago to the earliest Pliocene, about 4.5 million years ago, no other region in North America can claim a more varied and richer wealth of important vertebrate fossil finds than from the famous BONE VALLEY region in the phosphate mining district of Central Florida. During this time, thick forests and grassy plains covered a stubby peninsula that only went as far south to what is now Polk County. If you were to visit this area at that time, you would find six-foot tortoises, shovel-tusked mastodons, hornless rhinos, humpless camels, iguanas, gila monsters, and 30-foot crocodiles. The warm waters surrounding the area were filled with a rich variety of life as well, including long-beaked dolphins, bony fish, rays, sea cows and sharks including the notorious and now extinct giant killer shark, megalodon. Bone Valley fossils are rare and highly-priced specimens. Due to the unique geological characteristics of the phosphate-rich region, most of the fossils are beautifully preserved with amazing detail and color. Unlike the majority of southeastern U.S. fossils retrieved from rivers and streams, Bone Valley specimens are found in dry earth and are not stained with the typical cruddy black and brown muck from rivers. Because Bone Valley fossils comprise so much variety of both ancient marine and terrestrial creatures, along with their unique and rare beauty of preservation, specimens from this locality are very rare and of great value to any fossil collection. ULTRA-RARE COLOR, INTACTNESS AND PRESERVATION - A TRUE 5-STAR INVESTMENT GRADE! 2.7" in length on the diagonal edge x 2.45" wide SOLD SH688 INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX Actual Item - One Only |
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At a length of 52 feet
and weighing in excess of 60 tons, Carcharodon 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!