Jump to content

Huge Alopias Grandis Tooth, Any Info?


musicallymade

Recommended Posts

I have been trying to find out some info about the tooth I have. As far as I can tell it's an alopias grandis, and much bigger than others I have seen online. I'm mainly trying to find out what it may be worth and/or where I could sell it.

post-9011-0-04003700-1342163793_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi,

It isn't an Alopias tooth, but a Lamnid family one. I am sure some shark specialists here will give you the good id.

Coco

----------------------
OUTIL POUR MESURER VOS FOSSILES : ici

Ma bibliothèque PDF 1 (Poissons et sélaciens récents & fossiles) : ici
Ma bibliothèque PDF 2 (Animaux vivants - sans poissons ni sélaciens) : ici
Mâchoires sélaciennes récentes : ici
Hétérodontiques et sélaciens : ici
Oeufs sélaciens récents : ici
Otolithes de poissons récents ! ici

Un Greg...

Badges-IPFOTH.jpg.f4a8635cda47a3cc506743a8aabce700.jpg Badges-MOTM.jpg.461001e1a9db5dc29ca1c07a041a1a86.jpg

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I will add though, that it is a very nice looking megalodon tooth. Looks to be well serrated, good root, and some bourlette remaining with no enamel peel. If that is a Virgina found meg, it is a good size for the area and a Virgina found megalodon tooth is more rare than a South Carolina found megalodon tooth. So enjoy it! Jason

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It was found in Va. To me it doesn't look like the megalodon teeth I have seen. Those look more triangular than mine. When I looked up "rare tooth" it looked alomost identical to those of the thresher?? A fossil friend of my Dad said it was a rare tooth and in good shape and size, but couldn't give any more info than that. Obviously I don't know teeth, just going off what it looks like compared to others. If it's megalodon, why is it not shaped the same?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The shape changes gradually depending on the position in the mouth. Generally, the ones in the very front are more perfectly triangular, and they become somewhat angled towards the back of the mouth as you move in a tail-ward direction. Also, there are differences between the top and bottom rows. In the past, the importance of position was under-recognized, so many species names were given to teeth that came from different positions in one species.

More important than the "shape" is the presence of serrations and bourlette (dark area between the root and the blade). These features are not present in threshers, and are characteristic of megalodons.

Hope I got that right, not really a tooth guy (still learning).

Don

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A quick google image search for "posterior megalodon tooth" will show you the extreme range of morphology within the dentition of megalodon. Giant threshers did eventually evolve with serrations, but are seldom found in excess of 2 inches.

Your tooth is still very nice, it would sit happily displayed in the center of many folk's collections.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

...and, as THobern said, it would probably fetch around $100 - $150 in an eBay auction.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It was found in Va. To me it doesn't look like the megalodon teeth I have seen. Those look more triangular than mine. When I looked up "rare tooth" it looked alomost identical to those of the thresher?? A fossil friend of my Dad said it was a rare tooth and in good shape and size, but couldn't give any more info than that. Obviously I don't know teeth, just going off what it looks like compared to others. If it's megalodon, why is it not shaped the same?

It is a meg without a doubt for the various reasons others have already given.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

...and, as THobern said, it would probably fetch around $100 - $150 in an eBay auction.

I agree on the price range, but I'd favour the lower end of the scale though, just based on the difficulty selling teeth at the moment, especially for a new seller.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There are dozens of paleontological fields of which I am completely ignorant. However, the one thing I do know well is the fossil shark tooth market. I've sold fossil teeth on eBay for almost 5 years, and this has got to be one of the worst times to sell. Established dealers are having a hard time selling teeth, and people are less likely to buy from a person who hasn't established themselves as a reliable dealer (it doesn't help that new sellers are typically vague about measurements, locations, repairs etc. and don't take the best photographs). Add to that, eBay and Paypal fees will shave 15-20% off whatever you get for it. Please don't take this as a self-interested attempt to get the tooth - I don't want it - but the best place to sell the tooth may well be here. There are no fees, and a lot of people who might be looking to add a nice, but affordable, tooth to their collection.

If you want to make the most out of this tooth, then I suggest you hold onto it for a few years. It's a nice tooth, and should hold its value. If, however, you want to get some money now - which is fair enough - I'd suggest that you take any offer of $120 or so that people make you. Megalodon teeth are impressive, but relatively common, and I think that's really the most you'll be able to get for it. Caveat venditor.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

...the best place to sell the tooth may well be here...

With the caveat that the Forum rules require that all sales & trades be transacted in the Member Sales & Trades forum, and then only by established members who have, through contributions to the discussion topics, earned permission to use the S&T topic.

"There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant

“Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley

>Paleontology is an evolving science.

>May your wonders never cease!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

With the caveat that the Forum rules require that all sales & trades be transacted in the Member Sales & Trades forum, and then only by established members who have, through contributions to the discussion topics, earned permission to use the S&T topic.

Definitely. I meant more that if a person made an offer through the personal message system, they should consider it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Definitely. I meant more that if a person made an offer through the personal message system, they should consider it.

Sadly, the private message system has been so abused by some commercial dealer "members" that such use is discouraged by the rules. We saw enough shady scamming being done that requiring transparency in commerce became the only solution.

It is unfortunate that the practices of a few back-ally scalpers should so impinge on honest, good-faith trade, but folks just don't enjoy being spammed (especially here, it seems).

"There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant

“Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley

>Paleontology is an evolving science.

>May your wonders never cease!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sadly, the private message system has been so abused by some commercial dealer "members" that such use is discouraged by the rules. We saw enough shady scamming being done that requiring transparency in commerce became the only solution.

It is unfortunate that the practices of a few back-ally scalpers should so impinge on honest, good-faith trade, but folks just don't enjoy being spammed (especially here, it seems).

That's a shame, as this is one of the few places that concentrates people with a shared, niche interest. I'd try eBay then. If you're unsure about selling it yourself, contact Garry Dye at megalodonsharkteeth.com as he sells on commission and should be able to get a reasonable price.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh I'm not planning to seel it. My Dad found this when he was pouring concrete. I remember when this tooth was actually bigger than my own hand, and he laughed at me for wanting to take it to 3rd grade show and tell. Hahaha

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Let me add that times are tough, and if I found out that it was worth much more than that, I would have sadly parted with it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's a shame, as this is one of the few places that concentrates people with a shared, niche interest. I'd try eBay then. If you're unsure about selling it yourself, contact Garry Dye at megalodonsharkteeth.com as he sells on commission and should be able to get a reasonable price.

I would personally recommend Steve Alter , at http://megalodonteeth.com, for any shark tooth transactions. He is one of the most honest and trustworthy commercial dealers there is. I have dealt with him for close to 20 years with no problems and he is one of a small number of dealers I have never heard anything negative about.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would personally recommend Steve Alter , at http://megalodonteeth.com, for any shark tooth transactions. He is one of the most honest and trustworthy commercial dealers there is. I have dealt with him for close to 20 years with no problems and he is one of a small number of dealers I have never heard anything negative about.

Without a doubt. I've got nothing bad to say about Steve, but I didn't know whether he sold things on commission.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...