Shark tooth ID

[Shellseeker]

Last night I went to my fossil club meeting and I was identifying a 1.5 inch shark tooth from scuba diving the Gulf of Mexico. The fossil hunters doing that were VERY successful after Hurricane Irma. One tooth looked somewhat like this one.

No obvious bourlette... ID please

 

 

[Miocene_Mason]

I believe it is a type of extinct thresher shark.

Trigonotodus, the serrated type are rare, kudos to whoever found it!

[siteseer]

41 minutes ago, WhodamanHD said:

I believe it is a type of extinct thresher shark.

Trigonotodus, the serrated type are rare, kudos to whoever found it!

 

I agree that it is a serrated thresher.

[Shellseeker]

@siteseer  @WhodamanHD Good answers. They help.  I was asked to ID a tooth last night that had serrations, minimal or no bourlette, and serrations about 1.5 inches. I realize it would be easier if I had a photo but I do not. Like this one, it "bends" to the left.

My curiosity -- the characteristics (fat root, serrations, shape, ) seem similar. 1) What tells you this is NOT a Meg,  2) Is there a version of Thresher that has serrations and another that does not?

Is this a Thresher?

[Miocene_Mason]

I'm not an expert so this may be incorrect, but the way I think you tell is firstly the distinctive curve and lack of real bourlette, and the encircled part below fades away in a way different than a meg. There are different species I believe although I do not remember what they are, I think there is thread somewhere on the forum about it though.

Hopefully an expert will know more.

[Shellseeker]

Well, I always learn a little when I search the net.... Giant Serrated Thresher, Trigonotodus sp. or Alopias grandis var. serratus . The 1st photo above is one of the best that I have seen. These serrated teeth are rare and pricey!! The Alopias grandis w/o serrations are rare..

Here is another type in the TFF Gallery

 

[Shellseeker]

Just adding a fantastic old TFF thread:

 

[fossilselachian]

An incredible find - made even more so with the well defined serrations

[sixgill pete]

Wow, beautiful serrated giant thresher. Any giant thresher is a great find, but a serrated one makes a ridiculous day!!!!