Great White Shark tooth identification
A broad triangular crown with coarse, irregular serrations on both edges, no cusplets and no bourlette. Upper teeth are broad and symmetrical; lower teeth are narrower.
At a glance
| Scientific name | Carcharodon carcharias |
|---|---|
| Family | Lamnidae |
| Status | Extant (vulnerable) |
| Time range | Pliocene to Recent (about 5 Ma to today) |
| Typical tooth size in our reference | 2 to 7 cm (0.8 to 2.8 inches) along the slant |
| Where teeth turn up | US Atlantic Coastal Plain (Maryland to Florida); US Gulf Coast (Florida to Texas); US Pacific coast; South America; Europe; Australia and New Zealand; Worldwide. US states with known finds: North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, Florida, California |
| How common | Uncommon (fossil), rare (fresh) |
What to look for
| Crown shape | Erect, flat in cross-section |
|---|---|
| Serrations | Coarse |
| Enamel | Smooth |
| Neck between crown and root | None |
| Root | Flat, bilobed, no groove |
| Root groove | None |
| Side cusplets | None in adults (very young sharks can show tiny cusplets) |
| Position in the jaw | Upper anteriors broad and symmetric; uppers further back lean; lowers narrower and more upright |
The clues that matter most
- Coarse, irregular serrations on a broad, flat triangle
- No bourlette
Signs it is probably something else
- Fine, very regular serrations with a bourlette (megalodon)
- A root groove
- Smooth edges
How it differs from look-alikes
- Megalodon teeth: Megalodon is larger, finely serrated and has a bourlette.
- Tiger Shark teeth: Tiger shark teeth are oblique with a notch on the trailing edge.
- Bull Shark teeth: Bull shark teeth are smaller, finely serrated and often more upright.
Many teeth cannot be pinned to one species. A careful answer names the likeliest candidates and says how sure it is. See how identification works and shark tooth anatomy.
Fossil, recent and collecting notes
Fossil teeth are legal to collect in most places; modern teeth from living animals may carry species-protection rules. Do not buy teeth from protected populations.
A great white replaces its teeth throughout its life, and the serrated, triangular upper teeth are built to cut. Fossil great white teeth are scarce, which makes them prized finds.
This is general guidance, not legal advice. Rules change and differ by place, so check with the landowner or the agency that manages the land.
Sources
- Cappetta, H. 2012. Chondrichthyes: Mesozoic and Cenozoic Elasmobranchii: Teeth. Handbook of Paleoichthyology 3E. Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil.
- Ebert, D.A., Dando, M. & Fowler, S. 2021. Sharks of the World: A Complete Guide. Princeton University Press.
- Compagno, L.J.V. 1984. FAO Species Catalogue Vol. 4: Sharks of the World, Parts 1 and 2. FAO Fisheries Synopsis 125.
- Ehret, D.J. et al. 2012. Origin of the white shark Carcharodon (Lamniformes: Lamnidae) based on recalibration of the Upper Neogene Pisco Formation of Peru. Palaeontology 55: 1139-1153.
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (gbif.org), accepted names and IUCN Red List categories as listed there, checked Nov 7 2026.
- The Paleobiology Database (paleobiodb.org), taxonomy and stratigraphic ranges, checked Nov 2026.
Compiled from the published sources listed below. This guide has not yet been reviewed by an outside paleontologist. Last updated November 11, 2026.