Shark Teeth Facts

Sharks are one of the most frightening animals known to man; the movie Jaws immortalized sharks as a terrifying creature of the deep. Contrary to movies and news stories, however, shark attacks are much rarer than many people think, and sharks are complex, intelligent creatures, albeit dangerous ones. Shark teeth in particular are an interesting facet of shark anatomy.

Types

• Different species of sharks have different-sized and shaped teeth, although all species of shark share some aspects in common. All sharks have numerous rows of teeth that are continuously replaced throughout their lives; most sharks will lose a tooth or two with each meal, so having a constant supply of growing teeth is vital to survival.
  Some species of sharks, like Great Whites, have triangular serrated teeth, while others have thin, pointed teeth.

Function

• Sharks do not have molars, incisors, bicuspids or most other common types of teeth. Sharks' teeth are made solely for biting and tearing. As sharks will not chew their food, but instead will shake their prey until they have torn a chunk off, there is no need for them to have molars.
  As sharks are predators, it is important that their teeth be as efficient as the animals themselves. Having teeth that allow for fast, large bites of prey is vital.

Significance

• Fossils of shark teeth are usually the only record of sharks left behind. Shark skeletons are made of cartilage, and the only bones they have are their teeth. It can take up to 10,000 years for a tooth to become fully fossilized, allowing researchers to study both the type of sediment in which the tooth settled (based on its coloration) and the time period in which the shark lived.
  Megalodon sharks were the largest species of shark to ever live. Using statistics and measurements of the fossilized teeth, scientists identified megalodons as being roughly 49 feet in length.

Jaws

• Sharks' jaws, like their teeth, are different from those of most other species. A shark will move both its upper and lower jaw during an attack, giving them the most powerful jaws of any animal. Combined with the tearing and ripping power of the teeth themselves, a shark bite is an extremely effective tool.

Collecting Shark Teeth

• Many shark enthusiasts will collect shark teeth. Whether these are bought from websites like SharkTeeth.com or found on a beach, gathering several types of teeth and identifying from what species they came is a hobby that almost anyone can participate in.
  Buying or finding fossilized and modern shark teeth is a simple way to appreciate the power of a shark's evolution, without getting in the path of a bite.