Extinct Sand Tiger? Having Trouble W/ Species.

[WALKN_WILD]

Hey everyone. Recently I have been finding some very interesting shark teeth that i believe to be extinct Mako's, Meg teeth, sand tiger teeth, Otodus obliquus, as well as auriculatus. If anyone would be willing to help with some identifications it would be much appreciated. I have attached an image of the shark tooth I am currently trying to identify. I discovered it on a beach in SC after a beach renurishment project to restore the eroding beach so I'm not sure the age due to it being found on the surface after dredging. I believe it is a species of sand tiger shark but the tooth has two cusplets on either side of the main cusp. Size: Main cusp is half an inch long. Does anyone have any ideas about species? I can post more pics if y'all think a different angle would help produce an id. Thanks for looking!

Edited June 4, 2015 by WALKN_WILD

[abyssunder]

Looks like Serratolamna for me.

[Gneave]

I frequent the beaches of south carolina and i come across dozens of teeth like this. I occasionally have issues placing the tooth under one species, but i think it's a lateral Carcharias cuspidata or C taurus from what i can tell. Both are far more common than a serratolamna in SC(especially cuspidata). Look under microscope at the base of the crown. If you see what looks like longitudinal wrinkles in the enamel, it is taurus. If not, it is likely cuspidata. Might be a lamnid but looks more like a lateral sand tiger of sorts, and Serratolamnas are rare in the carolinas.

[Gneave]

Here are some similar ones i have for reference

[WALKN_WILD]

Gneave, thanks for the informative reply. I agree that it does look like C taurus. I'll have to look for the longitudinal wrinkles, but from what i can tell your ID is right on point. Thanks again for the information and the pictures you posted as a reference were a big help as well. Thanks again!

I frequent the beaches of south carolina and i come across dozens of teeth like this. I occasionally have issues placing the tooth under one species, but i think it's a lateral Carcharias cuspidata or C taurus from what i can tell. Both are far more common than a serratolamna in SC(especially cuspidata). Look under microscope at the base of the crown. If you see what looks like longitudinal wrinkles in the enamel, it is taurus. If not, it is likely cuspidata. Might be a lamnid but looks more like a lateral sand tiger of sorts, and Serratolamnas are rare in the carolinas.

[sixgill pete]

I think to get a positive ID on this tooth you need to know age. Where in SC are you finding them? The fact that it has double cusplets makes me think Cretaceous or Eocene, but that is not 100%.

[Gneave]

Carcharias cuspidata can have double cusplets, and some lateral C. Taurus have been known to have small second cusplets. But yes, i agree this specimen is probably eocene ( so I cast my vote for cuspidata).

[WALKN_WILD]

The tooth was found on the surface of a beach near Georgetown SC. Sand was dredged and pumped inland from about a mile off the beach. Thanks again for help with the ID.

[sixgill pete]

Put up a good picture of the other side of the tooth and it will help in getting a positive ID

[WALKN_WILD]

sixgill pete it will be a few days till i can post a picture of the back side of the tooth but i will as soon as i can. Thanks for the recommendation i didn't even think to do that! Thanks again!

[Gneave]

B. Lerichei and C. Cuspidata laterals can be VERY difficult to distinguish, but the inner side cusplets appear to be much larger than the outer ones so i still believe it is cuspidata, as lerichei cusplets tend to be more similar in size.

[Gneave]

Here is a picture. It may just be me, but the cusplets on this B. lerichei appear different from the tooth posted, although they can be variable in both species.

[sixgill pete]

B. Lerichei and C. Cuspidata laterals can be VERY difficult to distinguish, but the inner side cusplets appear to be much larger than the outer ones so i still believe it is cuspidata, as lerichei cusplets tend to be more similar in size.

Brachycarcharias lerichei is a Paleocene and Eocene species while Carcharias cuspidata is an Oligocene and Miocene species, so in that respect they are actually very easy to differentiate as they are not found in the same formations. Knowing the age of the formation will rule one of these out immediately. However, as we know the age of this tooth is unknown. There must be someone who knows the age of the fossil beds offshore of Georgetown SC.