Megalodon - Fossil tooth - 11 cm

An extraordinary specimen of fossil tooth belonging to Carcharocles megalodon, the largest shark ever to have lived on Earth, extinct about 3.6 million years ago.

Characteristics:
Shape: triangular, stout and symmetrical, typical of anterior/lateral teeth of the jaw
Conservation: Excellent — enamel well preserved with clearly visible vertical striations along the edges
Color: natural brown/amber
Root: present and intact, with a slight restoration using the original sedimentary matrix still adhering
Serration: very fine and well preserved on the cutting edges (carinae)
Condition: Excellent for a fossil of this antiquity.
Collector’s interest: A piece with a strong visual impact, ideal for fossil collectors, paleontology enthusiasts, or as a high-quality decorative element.

Otodus megalodon (the species name, megalodon, derived from Greek and meaning "great tooth"), commonly known as megalodon or megaldonte, is an extinct species of giant shark that lived from the Early Miocene to the Early Pliocene, about 23–3.6 million years ago (Aquitanian–Zanclean), whose large fossil teeth indicate a cosmopolitan distribution. In the past it was thought that O. megalodon belonged to the family Lamnidae and was a close relative of the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), but subsequent studies have reclassified it within the extinct family Otodontidae, a lineage that split from the great white shark’s lineage during the Early Cretaceous.

Size estimates for the megalodon vary depending on the method used, with maximum total-length projections ranging from 14.2 to 20.3 meters.