Otodus Tooth Fossil

This specimen is a fossilized tooth from the extinct Otodus obliquus, an apex predator that lived during the Paleocene and Eocene epochs approximately 60 to 45 million years ago. Otodus is widely recognized within the paleontological community as one of the earliest forms of mackerel sharks, or lamniformes, contributing valuable insights into the evolutionary trajectory of this diverse shark group.

This tooth, characterized by its triangular shape, broad base, and smooth-edged, slightly oblique cusps, serves as an example of the dentition that facilitated the Otodus’s predatory lifestyle. Such robust, well-defined teeth were likely used to capture large-bodied prey, offering a glimpse into the feeding habits and ecological role of this prehistoric marine creature.

The remarkable state of preservation of this Otodus tooth not only highlights the resilience of dental structures over geologic timescales, but also provides a tangible connection to an ancient underwater world dominated by formidable predators like Otodus.