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I've had this weekend marked on my calendar for a few weeks to take advantage of favorable projected tides by going shark tooth hunting at Matoaka! The remnants of Hurricane Sally scrambled that forecast, bringing high winds and surf to Maryland, but I decided to head down this morning anyway. When I arrived, the sky was fairly clear, but there was a strong, steady wind generating a constant stream of waves, and the tide was well above normal, leaving only a narrow strip of beach. The beach opened up a little bit after I walked and waded north but the storm had dumped a layer of fresh sand and there were almost no exposed shell beds. I searched for an hour before I found my first fossil of any note (a cetacean epiphysis). Then, shortly after that, I found my first shark tooth. It was worth the wait--a nice Carcharodon hastalis up near the high tide line! About a half hour later, I found a pristine Galeocerdo aduncus tooth at the water line. The serrations are still super sharp on this one.

Hey Guys! I've been going through some of our Calvert Cliffs summer finds and came across this one that I can't ID. It looks like it has a couple of teensy cusplets, which is probably a useful clue for somebody who actually knows their stuff. Any ideas?

It has been a little while since I shared a pretty little horse tooth with the forum and this one qualifies. I would have put it on Fossil ID, but I know what it is... So, found in Bone Valley , Florida with great Black and Tan colors, an upper molar from a Miocene Horse. No isolated protocone to give those who love these teeth like I do, some difficulty in identifying. I'll be moving this one into my gallery of similar sized teeth after a couple of days. God, I the hobby that gives me the opportunity to find treasures like these... Jack

I recently picked up three cow shark teeth with uncertain identifications. I can not be sure myself so I thought I’d get some help sorting this out. First one is 19mm and comes from the Pico Formation, Ventura County California. I believe it is Pliocene in age. I think it is a Hexanchus tooth but Notorynchus is known from at least one So Cal formation similar in age according to fossilworks. It is missing the largest cone. Even though I lean 6 Gill, I’m almost hoping somebody thinks 7 Gill because a California 7 Gill would be sweet lol Either way, it’s a really pretty tooth. Next are two from the Miocene deposits of Gironde France. Notorynchus and Hexanchus are both described from this location and they are small partials. I really can not figure out if I have two Notorynchus or one of each. I’m rooting for a 6 Gill but a great location to add regardless of the ID. All opinions are welcome.

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone could help me with this tooth... first, I was wondering if anyone could I.D it, it appears to have a cusp, so I’d say no to megalodon, so I’d guess either an Angustidens or Auriculatus... second, I was wondering if you guys think this is just a worn tooth that was in the river for a while, or if it was digested, I saw one for sale that looked similar and said it was digested, so it got me wondering, and I figured it was worth it to at least check on the forum. TIA!

Hello! Im in hopes of some other eyes to help me learn what I’m looking at. I found these two teeth in different rivers, the Nottoway and the Pamunkey. I’m thinking they are small dolphin teeth, but would be unsurprised if they come from a fish. I seem to mentally morph fish parts into mammal parts in my fossil gazing fantasies. Just trying to get better eyes, or maybe a better brain. thanks for your time!

I've been visiting the shark tooth site here in the Lake of Constance region quite regularly, since it makes for a nice bike ride to get there and it's also a relatively relaxing activity. I figured I could show you some of the things I've been finding over the last few weeks. Please feel free to revise my ids if they aren't correct. Physogaleus contortus. 18mm. Carcharhinus sp. 15mm. Carcharius acutissima. 16mm. Carcharias sp. 25mm. Araloselachus cuspidatus. 12mm. Carcharhinus priscus. 11mm. Sparus cinctus. 7x5mm. Mitsukurina lineata. 21mm. Araloselachus cuspidatus. 25mm. Carcharodon hastalis. 25mm.

I found this today at my favorite shark tooth site in the Miocene Burdigalian and was wondering if it might be a chub? It's kinda small for a megatooth with a slant length of 13mm., but the serrations and shape have got me thinking.

Hi everyone. I was hoping some of our European members might be able to help me out a little. I am currently at home due to depression, burn-out and severe anxiety attacks all related due to the COVID-19 situation (I work in a essential store and I belong to the risk groups, so after 6 months the stress finally became too much). Long story short, I haven’t left the house since march (except for work), the only 4 times I left was because I had to go to the doctor. But now I am at home and I am currently in therapy with a psychologist and the natural next step is to finally venture outside for the first time since march. So one of the idea’s I had was to go out and pick up fossil hunting again as a way to deal with the anxiety, stress and trauma. I started in august last year and managed to go on 3 hunts since then. 2 with the fossil club (the hunt to Eben-Emael & to Rumst) and 1 hunt one my own in close proximity to home. But since I am new to hunting I don’t know that many good spots to start, I have some idea’s but I have no clue where to start. I already have 1 hunt planned with the club on september 19 to the Devonion of Couvin, but I would like to have been out there again before I go on a group hunt. So I am looking for good fossil locations in Belgium (Normally the Netherlands of Germany would be fine too, but I am not quite mentally ready to leave my country at the moment), I don’t really care about the age of the fossils, I am interested in pretty much everything. But I am looking for places that are easy to access, places where you can hunt without permission. I also asked on the dutch forum, but I know there are a lot of Dutch, Belgian, French & German members here as well who might be able to help. So any locations, suggestions and tips are welcome, if anyone knows some fun places to hunt, I’d love to hear your experiences from there. Some places I had in mind where: The Ardennes: I have heart many great things about people hunt in the Ardennes, but I don’t really know where to start and which are good and easy spots to visit. I was thinking to maybe visit Barvaux, as I have heard it is legendary for it’s brachiopods. But any suggestions are welcome or if any one has some experiences of their own in Barvaux or other places in the Ardennes. Resteigne: This location really sparked my attention as I heard many great things about it. If I read correctly it is a closed quarry that is free to access and which is easy to hunt where some cool Devonian finds can be done. If anyone has been to this quarry I would love to hear your experiences! Antwerp: I know the Antwerp region is world renowned with fossil lovers all over the world because of it’s richness in Miocene & Pliocene shark teeth. And I know that many people hunt there, but I have no idea where these locations are and if they are free to access? Is anyone here on the forum active there? And do you recommend going there as a beginning fossil hunter? And while I don’t know a location to start looking for them, but I am very interested in searching for Carboniferous plant material, preferably in some coal quarry dump site. I know that we had many coal mines in the past, but I don’t know if there are any dumps left that are accessible. I looking for one that are preferable in Limburg or near Liège as that is quite close to where I live. The Schneeberg in Aachen: this is the last place I have in mind and while it isn’t located in Belgium, it is located very close to home. This hill lies on the Dutch/German border the Maastrichtian limestone there is part of the same formations that can be found at Eben-Emael, ENCI in Maastricht and all the other Dutch Limestone quarries that are part of the Maastrichtian type locality. Since those quarries are one of my main interests, but most are closed, the Schneeberg is quite high on the list. So I was wondering whether anyone has hunted there yet and what are your experiences there. I know I ask a lot about a lot of very different localities, but I really need to get back out there to help me put my mind at ease. And I would really appreciate any help and tips and suggestions that I can get. My goal is to trying to visit a different location every week. Maybe @Manticocerasman, @Natalie81, @Indagator, @gigantoraptor & @Joeri_R know some good places to start and have some tips or suggestions? Thank you all in advance! Yours sincerely, Ziggy

Not a lot of information here. The area we are hunting generally has small shark teeth, Megalodons, a very few Great Whites, plus marine mammal teeth, verts, etc. There is an occasional land mammal identification, such as Gomphothere. I generally think middle to late Miocene. This is not my find. I am trying to Identify for a friend. My immediate reaction was not whale because I can not detect any horizontal banding and I should see it... Also I have not seen enamel caps on whale like this. I thought Dolphin, but even now, I do not find that convincing. All comments appreciated.

I was hunting in an area that might produce Miocene whale fossils and a little less likely Megalodons. I did find a dolphin or whale Vertebra. This type is very thin. and also a small Meg. So the location lived up to its reputation. But, I did not expect to find this broken mammal tooth: I almost tossed it, but got a glimpse of the inside enamel. Love that blue... Remember... Miocene... All suggestions and comments appreciated !!

The three shark teeth below are all from the Calvert Cliffs (Miocene) in Maryland. I have the two on the left (A. and B.) tentatively identified as Isurus desori, but I'm still learning my mako IDs, including the differences between true makos and Carcharodon hastalis. Hopefully these are identifiable despite their root conditions. I don't know if the tooth on the right (C.) is identifiable or not. Thanks in advance for any help!

I think this is a lower jaw bone but the more I look at it, I’m not sure. Have never found anything similar. It looks like it would’ve had 8 teeth. @Harry Pristis

I haven’t had much luck getting these larger bones identified in the past but this one is a little more complete so I am hoping for at least an ID on what part of the body this came from. Found in North Central Nebraska@Harry Pristis

My hunting days, during South Florida's rainy season are few and far between. I wait for and really appreciate the opportunities that come my way. I was out with a friend in the sunshine today. We were finding lots of small teeth, plus sand tigers, upper/lower hemis, a few small Makos, and I even picked up a Meg. There also were a number of sting ray teeth, denticles and broken spines. Then , in the 2nd last sieve of the day, I found one of my favorites -- a whale tooth, but not just any whale. I have found a number of Kogiopsis .sp teeth and somewhat fewer Scaldicetus teeth, both of which are know to exist in Florida. This one is neither Kogiopsis or Scaldicetus... Very odd. Is that enamel on the outside with flaking horizontal bands tradition or cementum? A little bit of a "bulb" at the root end, and one of the oddest root terminations I have ever seen on something I think to be whale. Last year I was fortunate to be "gifted" a number of Aulophyseter morrice teeth from a friend who hunts Shark Tooth Hill. I added a photo of this newly found tooth, just to indicate that there are other whales with teeth this size, even though they do not match other characteristics. I had a fantastic day. I found a high quality whale tooth that very likely can not be identified. and finding one gives me hope that I will find more like it.I decided to publish photos just in case others have found similar teeth... Jack

Hey everyone! I was down at a ranch in Southern California looking for fossils when I came across these two pieces below. They look like coprolite to me, but would love some other input. I’m not sure on the exact formation, but I found a lot of petrified wood in the same area. Let me know what you think! Thanks!

2-3 weeks back, I was digging a hole trying to get down to the clay bottom, finding some nice sized G. cuvier and just on top of the clay, a 2 inch Mako. I also found a little bit of whale, a broken tooth, a small "cookie", and a very flat bone fragment and something that seemed like a rock, but was not.... or at least I thought not... It took me a little while. This really does feel like rock . and the clam bore hole did not help. I found something like it 3 years ago and just had to recall. k Sometimes, it is not just a rock. rIn this case , it is a petro_tympanic of a baleen whale. Here is an example from a Grey whale. So this is an ID thread. What about that flat bone?? Came out of the same hole, nothing similar, once again it feels like a rock, but.... something is saying "bone" to me... I have been wrong before. Opinions appreciated !!!!!

Thought I would show some of the Fossils I have found locally. These have actually been setting in my garage for over 20 years, on a shelf. They are from the Modelo Formation, late Miocene. I am familiar with the Modelo Formation as one finds it in many road cuts or eroding out of hills sides all thru the Santa Monica Mtns; the Simi Hills and the Santa Susana Mtns. I use to spend a good deal of time splitting pieces of Modelo, looking for the fish fossils one can often find in them. a Friend of mine from years ago & myself just called all the fish we found Herring, though I am not certain that's what they are. Some look like Herring, but others look like Sardines and even Anchovies. They run in length from 1 inch up to 9 inches, possibly 10 inches. I think we just liked the fact we found cool looking Fish Fossils. It is fun splitting along seams as you hear this sound not unlike that of ripping a piece of Cardboard slowly. We knew we were likely to find fish fossils when we'd hear that sound... a number of the Fish we'd find came out headless or the head was disarticulated and hard to figure what we were looking at. But it didn't matter - it was just Fun looking at an 18 million year old plus fish. two of the photos are of the body and partial tails. , which is usually what we would find. the third photo is what i call a 'Puke', it looks like some other fish puked the remains of a smaller fish they had ate.. I am not 100% on that , but it seemed to fit nicely as a description.. These pukes are interesting in and of themselves. I have never unearthed a larger Fish fossil in the Modelo, but I know where there is one you can go look at, it's in Gaviota State Beach near Santa Barbara. The boulder it's in is on the Beach back towards Santa Barbara, the fish is probably 18 inches or more in length (Hard to tell as the back end is still covered in Shale), It looks like a Kelp Bass (Calico Bass) to me. .. I haven't visited it since 1989, I do hope it's still there.. These fossils don't look as awesome as many posted here, But I like them myself.... Thanks for your time, DEAN ~~~~

I was fortunate to find a place to dig yesterday. Most of my hunting areas are well under water and over my head). Think mid to late Miocene with very few Pleistocene mammal fossils and even then 80% marine. I have not found a lot of fish teeth (primarily 90% barracuda, which tend to be wide and flat). This tooth is different and I am hoping some TFF members will recognize it from their hunting areas. The length is 16mm, the root is 5.8 x 5.0 mm. All suggestions appreciated. Here is the only mammal fossil I found confirming pliocene_miocene. I am hopeful of figuring it out from the length and details of the APL.

Hello, I found this tooth a while ago. I assume it's from some kind of herbivore, but I am not sure. From the Miocene of Ruwais, Abu Dhabi, UAE