Megalodon
Also: Otodus megalodon, Carcharocles megalodon, meg
The largest predatory shark known, extinct around 3.6 million years ago, whose massive serrated teeth are the most sought-after fossil shark teeth. Identified by size, fine serrations, the bourrelet neck, and no cusplets.
Megalodon — Otodus megalodon — was the largest predatory shark that ever lived, hunting the world's warm seas until it died out around 3.6 million years ago. Because shark skeletons are cartilage, its teeth are almost all that remains, and those teeth, sometimes more than six inches of slant height, are the crown jewels of fossil collecting.
How a real Megalodon tooth is recognized
Telltale features include large size, a robust triangular blade, fine and even serrations, a chevron bourrelet where it survives, and the absence of lateral cusplets that its Otodus ancestors still had. Our guide on identifying a real Megalodon tooth covers each of these in detail.
Collecting Megalodon honestly
Size, completeness, color, and any restoration all shape value, and big claims deserve scrutiny — a true six-inch tooth is genuinely rare. Every Megalodon tooth we offer is authenticated and described plainly; you can explore our authenticated Megalodon collection or the full catalog.