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Clarcharocles megalodon from Summeville, SC Aurora, NC

CARCHAROCLES (Jordan & Hannibal, 1923)

The Megatooth Sharks


Shark Info Tooth Morphology Fossil Examples


Information


Origins

With teeth that could reach over 7 inches, and a body more massive than a T-Rex, Megatooth sharks, particularly C. Megalodon, are undoubtedly the most infamous of all prehistoric sharks. This shark could eat Jaws in one bite!

By now, most paleontologists believe the Megatooth shark lineage dates back to the giant mackerel shark of the Paleocene, Otodus obliquus. Otodus was the top predator of the Paleocene oceans. Although Otodus became extinct somewhere in the Eocene, Otodus was not a dead- end link. Throughout the Eocene Otodus teeth became more and more serrated. The Eocene Tologaysor (say that 3 times in a row) formation in Kazakhstan shows this transition nicely. Each zone of the formation has Otodus teeth that are slightly more serrated over geologic time.

Once the Otodus teeth became mostly serrated, paleontologists renamed the serrated Otodus genus to the Carcharocles genus, and thus the Carcharocles genus arose. Where the genus transition occurs depends on which paleontologist you ask. For instance, one transitional form, O. aksuaticus is called C. askuaticus by some; others regard C. auriculatus to be O. auriculatus, and so forth. Regardless of which transitional form is officially called a Carcharocles is a moot point. The point is that it is clear the Megatooth shark lineage (Carcharocles) was born from the Otodus lineage.

Over time the Megatooth shark went through slight morphological changes. The teeth became more regularly serrated, the Otodus cusps got smaller, the crown got broader, and the overall size increased. Paleontologists assigned each slight tooth change of the Megatooth shark to a new Carcharocles species. The Megatooth shark reached its high mark as C. megalodon, a shark of monstrous proportions. C. megalodon became extinct during the Pliocene and left no next of kin; it became too large and too specialized for its own good. It is a dead-end link on the tree of life. A very rough chronology of Megatooth species is shown on the following table:

A very rough chronology of species is shown on the following table:

Rough Time Period Shark Name
Paleocene O. obliquus
Early Eocene O. mugodzharicus
Early Eocene C. aksuaticus
Middle Eocene C. auriculatus
Late Eocene/Oligocene C. angustidens
Late Oligocene/Miocene C. subauriculatus
Miocene/Pliocene C. megalodon


It’s important to note that each species is the Megatooth shark, with a slight change in tooth form over different periods of time. As a result, there are many teeth that are a cross between two species. For example, in the early Miocene, C. subauriculatus have large cusps, where by late Miocene the cusps are very small. Some paleontologists may further subdivide the many C. species, but it’s important to remember all of the species are the same shark evolving over time. So don’t worry if you find a tooth with very small cusps, and can’t tell if it’s a juvenile megalodon or a subauriculatus; it’s a Megatooth shark, leave it at that!


Size, Behavior, & Extinction

The megatooth shark was clearly a top predator of its time. The teeth of Megalodon reached sizes over 7 inches. Some Paleontologists believe this shark could reach lengths over 50 feet.

Evidence suggests the obvious; this shark ate whales for breakfast! Many fossil whale bones of the Miocene and Pliocene show bite marks from megalodon teeth. An example is shown in the image below.

The above image shows a "normal" intact fossil whale vertebra
This image shows a whale vertebra that has been eaten by a C. megalodon. Notice the large gouge marks where it has been bitten in half.


Being the biggest predator of the time has its disadvantages. History shows the big top predators are usually the first to go during times of extreme environmental change. By the end of the Pliocene, the Isthmus of Panama closed, which changed global ocean currents. Whales began to migrate into arctic regions, cold places where megalodons could not go. Also during this time period, Orcas, the Killer Whales, appeared on the scene. These large marine mammals that hunted in packs competed with the megalodons. If there are two top predators vying for the same food supply, one is going to lose, and we all know it wasn’t the Orcas. It appears that a number of these factors contributed to the demise of the Megatooth shark. Millions of years of evolution had made the megatooth shark too large and too specialized to adapt to its changing environment.

Many people think a megalodon would also compete with Great White sharks in the Pliocene. This isn’t the case. Due to the distinct size differences, Great Whites would have hunted smaller prey; i.e. Seals. Seals would have only whetted a megalodon’s appetite. Megalodons would have had to prey on larger food; i.e Whales. Therefore, the megalodons and Great Whites would not have competed with each other.

On a final note, some Paleontologists believe megalodons did not evolve from the Otodus lineage, and that they are also related to Great White sharks, Carcharodon carcharias. Therefore, they believe Megatooth sharks should be assigned to the Carcharodon genus, and not the Carcharocles genus.

Tooth Morphology

The teeth of Megatooth sharks are unmistakable. They are big, robust, and serrated. However, identifying a specific species is a bit more difficult. Generally, knowing the formation, and thus the time period the tooth was found in, helps tremendously.

For example, if the tooth was found in an Eocene formation, its probably C. auriculatus, or C. aksuaticus, depending on the serrations. If it was found in Oligocene deposits, it’s probably C. angustidens. Miocene formations would most likely have C. subauriculatus or C. megalodon, depending on if there are cusps on adult teeth, and a Pliocene formation would have C. megalodon.

Generally speaking, each successor species has the following changes: smaller cusps (no cusps for adult C. megalodon), a broader tooth form, a larger size, and more regular serrations. Juvenile C. megalodon sometimes have cusps, and therefore look identical to C. subauriculatus. Also remember, depending on the exact age and formation, a tooth may look more like a transition between two species.

The only genus Carcharocles may look similar to is that of Carcharodon. Carcharodon carcharias, the Great White shark, may look similar to the Megatooth shark. There are, however, some straightforward differences. First, Great Whites only occur in Miocene and Pliocene deposits, so they can be found with C. subauriculatus teeth and C. megalodon teeth. However, compared to Megatooth shark teeth, Great Whites are much thinner and smaller with less robust roots. Also Great White teeth do not have a bourlette, whereas Megatooth sharks have a very wide and noticeable one. Finally, Great White teeth have very coarse and irregular serrations, compared with the regular serrations of the Megatooth sharks.


The following tooth I.D. diagrams show three of the species, C. megalodon, C. subauriculatus, and C. angustidens.

C. megalodon tooth from Aurora, NC


C. subauriculatus tooth from the Calvery Cliffs of MD


C. angustidens tooth from Berkeley County, S.C

The Fossils


The Megatooth Sharks:

C. angustidens,

C. subauriculatus,

C. megalodon



C. angustidens (Agassiz 1843)
Megatooth Shark
This species is thought to have evolved into C. subariculatus. The only difference is the cusps are larger, the blades are not as broad, and the teeth are often smaller in size. This species found in the Oligocene.
This is a worn/beat up tooth found while diving.


Formation:
  • Chandler Bridge Formation.
    Age:
  • Oligocene, ~28 m.y.
    Location:
  • Edisto River, Colleton County, S.C.
    Size:
  • 2 5/8" slant (66 mm)
    Date:
  • Aug. 2004 TRIP
    • Here is another water worn tooth found from diving.


    Formation:
  • Chandler Bridge Formation.
    Age:
  • Oligocene, ~28 m.y.
    Location:
  • Edisto River, Colleton County, S.C.
    Size:
  • 2 3/8" slant (60 mm)
    Date:
  • Aug. 2004 TRIP
    • Here is a chipped angustidens from a land site in S.C.


    Formation:
  • Undetermined Formation.
    Age:
  • Reworked into Pliocene?, 2.5-5 m.y.
    Location:
  • "Superpit" in Berkeley County, S.C.
    Size:
  • 2" slant (51 mm)
    Date:
  • Aug. 2003 TRIP
    • Here is a nice looking one with a "lightening" pattern on the blade. This one's from a drainage ditch in SC.


    Formation:
  • Chandler Bridge Formation.
    Age:
  • Oligocene, ~28 m.y.
    Location:
  • Berkeley County, S.C.
    Size:
  • 1 3/4" slant (44 mm)
    Date:
  • Aug. 2006 TRIP
    • This is a small guy in near perfect shape from a land site in S.C.


    Formation:
  • Undetermined Formation.
    Age:
  • Reworked into Pliocene?, 2.5-5 m.y.
    Location:
  • "Superpit" in Berkeley County, S.C.
    Size:
  • 1 5/16" slant (33 mm)
    Date:
  • Aug. 2003 TRIP



    • C. chubutensis (Ameghino, 1906) aka subauriculatus (Agassiz, 1839)
    Megatooth Shark
    This species is thought to have evolved into C. megalodon. The only difference is the tiny cusplets, and smaller size. This species is only found in the Miocene.
    This is a 3 5/8" C. subauriculatus in a chunk of Pungo River contact layer.

    Click on the image to see it as found and being prepped.

    Formation:
  • Pungo River
    Age:
  • Roughly 18-22 m.y.
    Location:
  • PCS Mine, Aurora, NC
    Size:
  • 3 5/8" Slant Height (92mm)
    Date:
  • Sept 2008 TRIP
    • This is a nice 3" subauriculatus in a chunk of Pungo River Coquina (Limestone).

    Click on the image to see it as found and being prepped.

    Formation:
  • Pungo River
    Age:
  • Roughly 18-22 m.y.
    Location:
  • PCS Mine, Aurora, NC
    Size:
  • 3" Slant Height (75mm)
    Date:
  • Sept 2005 TRIP
    • Click to view the fossil as found
    This is a lingual view of a 3" upper tooth.

    Click on the image to see it when found.

    Formation:
  • Pungo River
    Age:
  • Roughly 18-22 m.y.
    Location:
  • PCS Mine, Aurora, NC
    Size:
  • ~3" slant (76mm)
    Date:
  • March 2005 TRIP
    • Click to view the fossil as found
    Here is a chipped 3" subauriculatus.

    Click on the image to see is as found.

    Formation:
  • Pungo River
    Age:
  • Roughly 18-22 m.y.
    Location:
  • PCS Mine, Aurora, NC
    Size:
  • 3" Slant Height (75mm)
    Date:
  • March 2006 TRIP
    • This is the very first megatooth sharktooh I found!


    It's an Upper tooth.

    Based on this tooth, the size of the shark it came from was probably around 21 feet in length.

    Formation:
  • Calvert, Plum Point member
    Age:
  • Early - Middle Miocene ~ 18-15 m.y.
    Location:
  • Plum Pt., Calvert Co., MD
    Size:
  • 2.75" (70mm) slant height
    • Click to view the fossil as found
    This is a lingual view of a small lateral that Amy found.

    Click on the image to see it when found.

    Formation:
  • Pungo River
    Age:
  • Roughly 18-22 m.y.
    Location:
  • PCS Mine, Aurora, NC
    Size:
  • ~1 7/8" slant (47mm)
    Date:
  • March 2005 TRIP
    • We found a tiny one... This guy was dug out of a chunk of fallen Zone 10 in the Calvert Formation.
    It appears to have some feeding damage on the tip.


    Formation:
  • Calvert, Plum Point member, Zone 10
    Age:
  • Middle Miocene ~ 16-15 m.y.
    Location:
  • Randle Cliff, Calvert Co., MD
    Size:
  • 1 1/4" (30mm) slant height
    • This is a small chipped Chubutensis posterior (from the rear of the mouth).
    You can tell it's a Chubby, due to the tiny "cusp" at the edge of the tooth

    Formation:
  • Calvert, Plum Point Member
    Age:
  • Middle Miocene ~ 18-15 m.y.
    Location:
  • Willows, Calvert Co., MD
    Size:
  • 1 1/8" (28.5mm) slant height
    Date:
  • Summer, 2001



    • C. megalodon(Agassiz, 1843)
    Megatoothed Shark
    Obviously, this is the most famous prehistoric shark, as it is the pinnacle of megatooth shark evolution. It has the largest teeth, was twice the size of a Great White, and included whales in its diet! They lived from the Miocene and became extinct in the Pliocene. I sure am glad they're dead!

    Just how big was that shark your tooth came from? Click here to find out.
    This is our biggest Aurora meg yet. It's a robust upper. Unfortunately, there is feeding damage to the tip.
    It measures a hair over 4.5" across, and a hair over 5" tall, with a 6" slant height. It would probably have a 6 1/4" slant height if the tip was there.


    Formation:
  • Yorktown fm.
    Age:
  • 2.5-5 m.y.
    Location:
  • PCS Mine, Aurora, NC
    Size:
  • 6" slant (152 mm)
    Date:
  • Feb. 2009 TRIP
    • This is a robust lower. There are a few chipped serrations however.

    Click on the image to see it when found.

    Formation:
  • Yorktown fm.
    Age:
  • 2.5-5 m.y.
    Location:
  • PCS Mine, Aurora, NC
    Size:
  • 4 7/8" slant (124 mm)
    Date:
  • March 2008 TRIP
    • This is a decent sized Upper tooth. However the serrations are chipped off. It has the look of a reworked fossil.

    Click on the image to see it when found.

    Formation:
  • Yorktown; reworked from the Eastover fm.??
    Age:
  • 2.5-5 m.y.
    Location:
  • PCS Mine, Aurora, NC
    Size:
  • 4 5/8" slant (117 mm)
    Date:
  • March 2007 TRIP
    • This is an upper tooth. The root has some damage done to it.

    Click on the image to see it when found.

    Formation:
  • Yorktown fm.
    Age:
  • 2.5-5 m.y.
    Location:
  • PCS Mine, Aurora, NC
    Size:
  • 4.5" slant (114 mm)
    Date:
  • Feb. 2009 TRIP
    • This is a beat up Lower lateral meg found while Blackwater Diving in the Lowcountry of South Carolina.


    Formation:
  • Hawthorne Formation.
    Age:
  • Pliocene, 2.5-5 m.y.
    Location:
  • Beaufort County, S.C.
    Size:
  • 4 5/16" slant (109 mm)
    Date:
  • July 2008 TRIP
    • This is my favorite meg, because its my largest complete land find from South Carolina. Just look at the colors! The coloration of lowcountry land teeth are beautiful.
    It's an Upper tooth.


    Formation:
  • Undetermined Formation.
    Age:
  • Pliocene, 2.5-5 m.y.
    Location:
  • "Superpit" in Berkeley County, S.C.
    Size:
  • 4 1/16" slant (103 mm)
    Date:
  • Aug. 2003 TRIP
    • Here is a near perfect Upper Aurora tooth.

    Click on the image to see it when found.

    Formation:
  • ? Yorktown
    Age:
  • 5 m.y.
    Location:
  • PCS Mine, Aurora, NC
    Size:
  • 3 7/8" slant (98 mm)
    Date:
  • March 2006 TRIP
    • I nice little Upper tooth with some feeding damage.

    Click on the image to see it when found.

    Formation:
  • ?Yorktown
    Age:
  • 2.5-5 m.y.
    Location:
  • PCS Mine, Aurora, NC
    Size:
  • 2 7/8" slant (73 mm)
    Date:
  • March 2007 TRIP
    • Lingual and labial view of a nice looking Lower lateral meg.

    Click on the pic to see the trip this was found on.

    Formation:
  • Calvert
    Age:
  • Middle Miocene ~ 18-15 m.y.
    Location:
  • From a private spot along the cliffs, Calvert Co., MD
    Size:
  • 2 3/8" (60mm) slant height
    Date:
  • November 2007.
    • Lingual and labial view of a nice looking Lower lateral meg.

    Click on the pic to see the trip this was found on.

    Formation:
  • Calvert, Plum Point member
    Age:
  • Middle Miocene ~ 18-15 m.y.
    Location:
  • From a private spot along the cliffs, Calvert Co., MD
    Size:
  • 2 3/8" (60mm) slant height
    Date:
  • January 2004.
    • The left tooth was found by snorkeling , The right one is a small but almost perfect anterior, except for the feeding damage on the tip.
    This was pulled out of a chunk of fallen zone 10 of the Calvert formation.

    Based on these teeth, the size of the sharks these teeth came from were probably around 15 feet in length.

    Formation:
  • Left is Choptank. Right is Calvert, Plum Point member, Zone 10
    Age:
  • Middle Miocene ~ 18-15 m.y.
    Location:
  • Left is from a snorkel spot. Right is from Randle Cliff, Calvert Co., MD
    Size:
  • Both have a 1 7/8" (47mm) slant height
    Date:
  • Left is from spring 2002, right is from spring 2000.
    • These are three small lateral megs. The left one is a labial view of a marble looking tooth. The right one is a lingual view of the first nearly complete C. megalodon tooth Amy found. The left two are labial views.

    Formation:
  • Calvert, Plum Point Member
    Age:
  • Middle Miocene ~ 18-15 m.y.
    Location:
  • left-most one is from Plum Pt. Other two are from near Willows, Calvert Co., MD
    Size:
  • 1 3/8 & 1 5/8" (35 & 41mm) slant
    • All 3 of these laterals were found on the same stretch of beach in less than an hour. The person I was collecting with now hates me.
    The left one is in perfect condition.

    Formation:
  • Calvert, Plum Point Member
    Age:
  • Middle Miocene ~ 18-15 m.y.
    Location:
  • Willows, Calvert Co., MD
    Size:
  • Complete one has a 1 5/8" slant (41mm)
    Date:
  • Spring 2002


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