How To Identify Shark Teeth: 15 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Identify Shark Teeth PDF download Download Article Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: October 31, 2025 Fact Checked

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  • Recognizing Shark Teeth on the Beach
    • |
  • Identifying the Shark Species
    • |
  • Determining the Age of Shark Teeth
    • |
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This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 306,543 times. Learn more...

A trip to the beach can be really fun, but even more so when you find a cool shark tooth to bring home. You may wonder how you can increase your chances of finding shark teeth at the beach. Or, once you find a tooth, you may wonder what kind of shark it came from or how old it is. Luckily, there are ways that you can find these things out.

Common Types of Shark Teeth

Illustration showing 6 different types of shark teeth, including white, tiger, and sand tiger shark teeth.

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 3:

Recognizing Shark Teeth on the Beach

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  1. Step 1 Search for teeth at the tide line and the shoreline. 1 Search for teeth at the tide line and the shoreline. Go to the beach at low tide and look for the line of debris in the sand. Walk slowly along this tide line as you keep your eyes peeled for teeth. If the beach is busy, you might have more luck looking right where the waves are crashing into the shoreline so that you can snag teeth before others see them.[1]
    • Every now and then, dig up some of the sand along the tide line and/or shoreline and search through it for teeth. While teeth can be found on the surface of the sand, they’re also often found underneath.
  2. Step 2 Sift through shells and sand to find shark teeth. 2 Sift through shells and sand to find shark teeth. If there are a lot of shells in the areas where you search, it might be a good idea to grab a big pile of shells and sort through them. Scoop up some shells and dig up a little bit of sand that’s underneath. Put the shells and sand into a sifter and shake it. Then, take one object out at a time and observe it to see if it’s a tooth, a shell, or something else.[2]
    • While it’s possible to find teeth where there aren’t a lot of shells and/or debris, you may have more luck in areas where shells and debris have collected.
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  3. Step 3 Look for dark triangular shapes. 3 Look for dark triangular shapes. While shark teeth are subtly unique to each other, the teeth that you might find will most likely be black, or another similar dark color. They will also probably be smaller, between about 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) and 2 inches (5.1 cm) in length, and in the shape of a triangle. Focus on these physical characteristics as you scan the sand and sift through shells.[3]
  4. Step 4 Identify teeth by their glossy quality. 4 Identify teeth by their glossy quality. Shark teeth and seashells can sometimes look very similar to each other. If you pick up an object and can’t quite tell which one it is, hold it up to the sunlight. If it’s a shell, the object will likely have ripples and some iridescence, while nearly all shark teeth tend to appear glossy in the light.[4]
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Part 2 Part 2 of 3:

Identifying the Shark Species

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  1. Step 1 Recognize white shark teeth by their broad, triangular shape. 1 Recognize white shark teeth by their broad, triangular shape. If you have a shark tooth that’s flat and in the shape of a wide triangle, then you may have a white shark tooth on your hands.There should be coarse serrations along the blade of the tooth and it should also be about 1.5–2.5 inches (3.8–6.4 cm) long.
  2. Step 2 Identify tiger shark teeth by their short blades. 2 Identify tiger shark teeth by their short blades. Tiger shark teeth blades are only about as long as their roots. They can also be identified by the sharp serrations on the shoulders of their blades and also by how deeply-notched their blades typically are.Tiger shark teeth are typically about 1 inch (2.5 cm) long, but they can sometimes be as long as 1.5–2 inches (3.8–5.1 cm).
  3. Step 3 Recognize bull shark teeth by their tapering serrations. 3 Recognize bull shark teeth by their tapering serrations. Bull shark teeth have blades that are flat and broad with a narrow apex. These teeth are usually 1 inch (2.5 cm) long or slightly shorter. While there are serrations along the entire blade, they get smaller and smaller further down the blade.
  4. Step 4 Identify a lemon shark tooth by its slightly angled blade. 4 Identify a lemon shark tooth by its slightly angled blade. Lemon shark teeth have no serrations and the blade is angled to the side very slightly. Lemon shark teeth blades are also flat and narrow. The average length for lemon shark teeth is about 0.75 inches (1.9 cm).[5]
  5. Step 5 Spot a sand tiger shark’s tooth by its narrowness. 5 Spot a sand tiger shark’s tooth by its narrowness. Sand tiger shark teeth have extremely narrow blades that are free of serrations and typically measure about 1 inch (2.5 cm) in length.[6] This makes them relatively easy to identify. They also have very high cusps.[7]
  6. Step 6 Identify megalodon teeth by their large size. 6 Identify megalodon teeth by their large size. A megalodon is a type of shark that has been extinct for thousands of years, but it’s remembered for its massive size. You can typically identify this type of tooth by its size alone because it’s so much bigger than other shark teeth, as megalodon teeth typically range from 3.5–7 inches (8.9–17.8 cm) long. You can also identify these by their finely serrated blades and the thin black line that’s located between the blade and the root of the tooth.[8]
  7. Step 7 Identify other shark teeth species by their shapes and sizes. 7 Identify other shark teeth species by their shapes and sizes. Shark teeth from different species tend to stand apart from each other in these ways. The shape of the tooth is often the most telling, as most species have a uniquely angled blade, shaped cusp, or serration quality that identifies it as that particular species. If you think a tooth could’ve come from 1 of 2 possible species, measure its length and see if it fits more with the size of 1 species or the other.[9]
    • For example, great hammerhead shark teeth stand out because they have a uniquely square root and serrations from the top to the bottom of the blade that are a consistent size.
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Part 3 Part 3 of 3:

Determining the Age of Shark Teeth

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  1. Step 1 Identify fossilized teeth by their dark coloring. 1 Identify fossilized teeth by their dark coloring. Shark teeth contain oxygen, which can react with surrounding minerals to create colors over time. Fossilized shark teeth have had at least 10,000 years for this oxidation to take effect, so they’re often black, deep red, brown, grey, or another similar dark color. This varies based on the environment that the tooth has fossilized in, because different sediments contain minerals that create different colors through oxidization.[10]
    • Shark teeth that are found in areas that contain iron oxide, such as parts of New Jersey, tend to have an orange or red coloring.
    • Shark teeth found in areas that contain a lot of phosphate, such as Venice Beach, Florida, tend to be black, as phosphate is a dense, black mineral.[11]
  2. Step 2 Identify modern teeth by their lighter color. 2 Identify modern teeth by their lighter color. Modern teeth haven’t yet been exposed to the minerals in surrounding sediments for the 10,000 years that it takes to cause oxidation. As a result, these teeth are typically white, and usually appear much like they did when they were in the mouth of the shark they came from.[12]
  3. Step 3 Find out the species and see if it’s extinct. 3 Find out the species and see if it’s extinct. Try determining the general age of the tooth by observing its anatomy and finding out what kind of species it came from. While many shark teeth that you may find can come from sharks like tiger sharks and great white sharks that exist today, you could find one that comes from an extinct species. If you notice that the anatomy of a tooth matches that of an extinct species, the tooth is extremely old.[13]
    • The megalolamna paradoxodon is one example of an extinct shark species that you could possibly find the teeth of.[14] .
  4. Step 4 Recognize teeth that are found inland as old. 4 Recognize teeth that are found inland as old. While you can certainly find fossilized shark teeth at the beach, both modern and fossilized teeth are frequently found in this location. If you find a tooth significantly inland, then there’s a high chance that it’s very old because it would take a long time for the tooth to be moved far away from the ocean by the elements.[15]
    • For instance, if you find a shark tooth in a creek that’s 50 miles (80.5 kilometers) inland, it’s probably a fossilized tooth.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question I found a large shark tooth down in Sanibel Island, how do I find out what shark it's from? Community Answer Community Answer Research sharks in the area where you found the shark tooth, which should help narrow it down. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 25 Helpful 49
  • Question How many kilograms does a shark weigh? Community Answer Community Answer An average adult shark can weigh from 500 kg up to, in the case of great white sharks, over 2200 kg! Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 22 Helpful 30
  • Question I found a shark tooth 2 1/4" long and 1 1/2" wide. Can you tell me what kind of shark it's from? Community Answer Community Answer It could be a tiger shark tooth, but depends on what species of sharks live in the area. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 27 Helpful 36
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.nationalgeographic.com/family/article/how-to-find-shark-teeth-with-your-kids
  2. ↑ https://www.nationalgeographic.com/family/article/how-to-find-shark-teeth-with-your-kids
  3. ↑ https://daniellesdives.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/shark-teeth-101-beach-hunting-tips/
  4. ↑ https://www.thoughtco.com/why-are-shark-teeth-black-607883
  5. ↑ https://daniellesdives.wordpress.com/2012/07/18/shark-teeth-201-identification-florida-recent-teeth/
  6. ↑ https://daniellesdives.wordpress.com/2012/07/18/shark-teeth-201-identification-florida-recent-teeth/
  7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcZn8tKdyrs&feature=youtu.be&t=1m42s
  8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcZn8tKdyrs&feature=youtu.be&t=9s
  9. ↑ https://daniellesdives.wordpress.com/2012/07/18/shark-teeth-201-identification-florida-recent-teeth/
More References (6)
  1. ↑ https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/fish/discover/sharks/fossil-sharks/fossil-vs-modern/
  2. ↑ http://www.fossilguy.com/topics/shark-teeth-colors/index.htm
  3. ↑ https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/fish/discover/sharks/fossil-sharks/fossil-vs-modern/
  4. ↑ https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/fish/discover/sharks/fossil-sharks/fossil-vs-modern/
  5. ↑ https://resources.depaul.edu/newsroom/news/press-releases/Pages/Researchers-describe-new-large-prehistoric-shark.aspx
  6. ↑ https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/fish/discover/sharks/fossil-sharks/fossil-vs-modern/

About This Article

wikiHow Staff Co-authored by: wikiHow Staff wikiHow Staff Writer This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 306,543 times. 182 votes - 77% Co-authors: 15 Updated: October 31, 2025 Views: 306,543 Categories: Wildlife

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The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.

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Article SummaryX

To identify shark teeth, look for dark, glossy, triangle-shaped objects that are about 1/2 to 2 inches long. If you find a serrated tooth with a blade that's the same length as the roots, you might be looking at a tiger shark tooth. Or, if the tooth is flat, broad, and covered with serrations, you might have a bull shark tooth. Alternatively, if you find a tooth that's slightly angled with no serrations, there's a chance it's a lemon shark tooth. To learn how to determine the age of a shark by looking at its tooth, scroll down! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. wikiHow Staff Co-authored by: wikiHow Staff wikiHow Staff Writer 182 votes - 77% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 15 Updated: October 31, 2025 Views: 306,543 Kathleen Nelson

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