Shortfin Mako tooth identification
A long, slender, smooth, S-curved needle with no serrations and no cusplets; round in cross-section.
At a glance
| Scientific name | Isurus oxyrinchus |
|---|---|
| Family | Lamnidae |
| Status | Extant (endangered) |
| Time range | Miocene to Recent |
| Typical tooth size in our reference | 2 to 6 cm (0.8 to 2.4 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: Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, California |
| How common | Common |
What to look for
| Crown shape | Sigmoid, convex in cross-section |
|---|---|
| Serrations | None |
| Enamel | Smooth |
| Neck between crown and root | None |
| Root | Narrow lobes, lingual boss without a groove |
| Root groove | None |
| Side cusplets | None |
| Position in the jaw | Lower anteriors are long, slender and S-curved; uppers flatter and broader; laterals lean |
The clues that matter most
- Long, slender, smooth, S-curved crown, rounded in cross-section
Signs it is probably something else
- Serrations
- Cusplets (think sand tiger)
- A root groove
How it differs from look-alikes
- Broad-tooth Mako teeth: Hastalis is much broader.
- Longfin Mako: Longfin mako is slightly more curved, fossil only in most places.
- Thresher Shark: Thresher teeth are smaller, flatter and more triangular.
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
The shortfin mako is one of the fastest sharks, with bursts reported near 40 miles an hour, and its slender smooth teeth are made for gripping slippery fish.
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.
- 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.