Serrations
Also: serrae, saw edge
The small, saw-like teeth along a shark tooth's cutting edges. Coarse, fine, or absent depending on species, serrations help identify a tooth and signal how well its edges have survived.
Serrations are the tiny, saw-like points that run along the cutting edges of many shark teeth. They let the animal saw through flesh, and they also help collectors tell species apart: makos have smooth edges, great whites carry coarse serrations, and Megalodon shows famously fine, even serrations along both edges.
Serrations and identification
Serration size and regularity are part of how experts separate Megalodon from its Otodus ancestors and from modern sharks. On a Megalodon blade you should see hundreds of small, consistent serrations rather than a handful of large ones.
Why condition matters
Crisp, intact serrations point to gentle burial and good preservation; worn or rolled serrations suggest a tooth tumbled in a riverbed or surf for a long time. Edge sharpness feeds directly into grade, a subject our guide on grading and valuing shark teeth treats in full.
Fine, even serrations from tip to base are a hallmark of a well-preserved megatooth blade.