Product Description
ITEM #
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SH5-005
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ID
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Paleocarcharodon orientalis
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FOUND
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Phosphate Deposits - Khouribga, Morocco
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AGE
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PALEOCENE: 60 million years ago
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SIZE
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Tooth is 1.25" long on the diagonal
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CONDITION
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NO REPAIR OR FABRICATION
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NOTE
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WITH ALL ORIGINAL ROOTS LACKING
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INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX - Actual Item - One Only
Comes with a certificate of authenticity / information sheet |
This is a choice grade fossil tooth of Paleocarcharodon orientalis, otherwise known as the Pygmy White shark. It has superbly preserved serrations with only slight feeding wear. With its rich, glossy gem enamel it is a very rare and prized specimen in today's typical market of junk and patched together Paleocarcharodon teeth. The entire tooth including the root is 100% GENUINE with NO RESTORATION and NO REPAIR. Enamel is dense and glossy and even the cusplets are intact and choice as seen above.
Paleocarcharodon was a dead-end in the evolution of ancient sharks, leaving no ancestor after its extinction. While these teeth seem similar to the modern-day Great White, there is no relation at all in the lineage and development of either species. The classic characteristics are the irregular serrations and complex cusplets, also serrated.
The majority of Paleocarcharodon fossil teeth on the market are cleverly fixed up with fake and/or restored roots made from a paste of ground up roots of other sharks. To the untrained eye, this is very difficult to tell. Another common occurrence is to file serrations into the edges of teeth from another lesser rare shark species. This is more obvious as the serrations are the same height compared to the irregularity of the real teeth.