VISUAL FIELD GUIDE / TOOTH ID

Read the tooth.
Test the match.

A visual reference for living and fossil shark teeth—built around crown shape, serrations, cusplets, root form, jaw position and the limits of what one tooth can prove.

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ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATIONSNO PHOTO UPLOADFOSSIL + LIVING TEETH18 INDEXABLE COMPARISONS

IDENTIFICATION WORKBENCH

A shortlist you can defend.

Choose observable traits and the guide ranks morphological candidates. It does not pretend that every isolated tooth has a unique species-level answer.

01

READ THE TOOTH

Six observations beat one guess.

CrownCutting edgeCuspletRoot

Begin with the whole outline, then inspect the edge under magnification. Measure from crown tip to the lowest root point. Color comes last: sediment chemistry can turn unrelated fossil teeth the same black, tan or blue.

  1. CrownBroad cutter, narrow fang, hook, comb or crusher?
  2. EdgeSmooth, finely serrated, coarsely serrated or mixed?
  3. CuspletsAbsent, paired or several?
  4. RootDeep V, flat, rounded U or clearly bilobed?
02

STEP-BY-STEP IDENTIFICATION

Filter only what you can see.

Step 1 — choose the closest crown shape
03 / RANKED CANDIDATES

Add at least two traits.

Shape plus edge type is the best place to start.

Your ranked shortlist will appear here. Fossil color is deliberately not a major filter because surrounding minerals—not species—usually control it.

04

HOW TO READ THE RESULT

Confidence comes from combinations.

01

Shape first

Broad cutting triangles, smooth daggers, hooked blades, combs and crushing plates separate major dental designs.

02

Edges second

Use magnification. Worn serrations can disappear and fresh damage can imitate coarse teeth along an edge.

03

Position matters

Upper, lower, front and side teeth from one shark can differ enough to resemble separate species.

04

Locality breaks ties

For fossils, rock age and collection location often separate lookalikes better than color.

05

VISUAL REFERENCE LIBRARY

Major living and fossil tooth types.

38

Living sharks

LivingGreat white sharkCarcharodon carcharias

Flat, broad triangular blade with coarse serrations and no lateral cusplets.

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LivingTiger sharkGaleocerdo cuvier

A strongly curved, can-opener profile with a deep outer notch and compound serrations.

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LivingBull sharkCarcharhinus leucas

Broad, heavily serrated upper tooth or a narrower lower tooth with finer serrations.

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LivingSand tiger sharkCarcharias taurus

Long, slender smooth-edged cusp with a small cusplet on each side and a two-lobed root.

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LivingShortfin makoIsurus oxyrinchus

Slender, smooth-edged crown that often flexes or curves, with no side cusplets.

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LivingGreat hammerheadSphyrna mokarran

Triangular, strongly serrated crown that becomes increasingly oblique toward the jaw corners.

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LivingLemon sharkNegaprion brevirostris

Narrow smooth-edged cusp with fine serrations mostly confined to the base on upper teeth.

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LivingOceanic whitetipCarcharhinus longimanus

Broad serrated upper tooth paired with a more pointed lower tooth serrated mainly near its tip.

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LivingSandbar sharkCarcharhinus plumbeus

Broad, serrated high-cusped upper teeth; narrower and more finely serrated lowers.

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LivingBroadnose sevengillNotorynchus cepedianus

Lower teeth form a comb with one tall cusp and a row of progressively smaller cusps.

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LivingNurse sharkGinglymostoma cirratum

Small tooth with a central cusp flanked by several smaller cusplets on a broad base.

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LivingCommon thresherAlopias vulpinus

Relatively small, smooth, compressed blade that becomes oblique in lateral positions.

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LivingGoblin sharkMitsukurina owstoni

Tall, narrow, smooth-edged teeth with longitudinal grooves; front teeth are especially slender and fang-like.

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LivingLongfin makoIsurus paucus

Smooth, narrow lamnid tooth; generally broader and less strongly flexed than comparable shortfin-mako teeth.

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LivingPorbeagleLamna nasus

Slender smooth central cusp with a small cusplet on each side and a strongly two-lobed root.

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LivingSalmon sharkLamna ditropis

Smooth, pointed lamnid tooth with paired basal cusplets, closely resembling the porbeagle.

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LivingWhale sharkRhincodon typus

Minute, simple, backward-curving teeth arranged in hundreds of rows—tiny relative to the shark.

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LivingBasking sharkCetorhinus maximus

Very small, smooth, curved teeth with variable hooked or conical crowns.

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LivingMegamouth sharkMegachasma pelagios

Tiny, strongly curved hook-like teeth with a broad base, repeated in many rows.

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LivingBlue sharkPrionace glauca

Upper teeth are curved and finely serrated; lower teeth are narrow, straighter and often smoother.

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LivingBlacktip sharkCarcharhinus limbatus

Narrow, erect upper cusp with fine serrations and a broader base; lower teeth are slimmer and more upright.

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LivingSpinner sharkCarcharhinus brevipinna

Slim triangular teeth; uppers are finely serrated while lowers are narrow and usually smoother.

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LivingDusky sharkCarcharhinus obscurus

Broad, slightly oblique serrated upper teeth with narrow, erect, finely serrated lower teeth.

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LivingSilky sharkCarcharhinus falciformis

Upper teeth are oblique and finely serrated with a distinct notch; lower teeth are narrow and erect.

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LivingGalapagos sharkCarcharhinus galapagensis

Triangular serrated upper tooth; narrow erect lower tooth with finer serrations.

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LivingCaribbean reef sharkCarcharhinus perezi

Broad triangular, finely serrated upper teeth and narrow lower teeth with small serrations.

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LivingBlacktip reef sharkCarcharhinus melanopterus

Small, narrow triangular teeth with fine serrations; upper teeth are broader than lowers.

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LivingWhitetip reef sharkTriaenodon obesus

Narrow central cusp flanked by small side cusplets; edges are smooth to weakly serrated.

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LivingScalloped hammerheadSphyrna lewini

Moderately oblique triangular crown with fine serrations and a deeply notched two-lobed root.

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LivingBonnetheadSphyrna tiburo

Small front teeth with short cusps grade into broader, flatter crushing teeth toward the jaw corners.

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LivingGreenland sharkSomniosus microcephalus

Small narrow upper teeth and broader, strongly oblique lower teeth that form a continuous cutting edge.

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LivingBluntnose sixgillHexanchus griseus

Wide lower tooth with a tall leading cusp followed by a comb of smaller cusps.

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LivingFrilled sharkChlamydoselachus anguineus

Three long, slender, backward-curving cusps on a broad base, forming a trident-like tooth.

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LivingZebra sharkStegostoma tigrinum

Small central cusp bordered by two smaller cusplets on a compact broad base.

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LivingHorn sharkHeterodontus francisci

Pointed front teeth with lateral cusplets grade into broad, flattened molar-like rear teeth.

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LivingCookiecutter sharkIsistius brasiliensis

Large triangular lower teeth lock into a saw-like band; tiny upper teeth act mainly as hooks.

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LivingAtlantic angel sharkSquatina dumeril

Smooth, pointed conical cusp on a broad base, similar in upper and lower jaws.

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LivingSpotted wobbegongOrectolobus maculatus

Long smooth central cusp with small lateral cusplets on a broad compact root.

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08

Extinct sharks and lineages

ExtinctMegalodonOtodus megalodon

Massive triangular crown, regular serrations, thick root and often a visible bourlette between crown and root.

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ExtinctSnaggletooth sharkHemipristis serra

Upper teeth are broad, dramatically hooked and coarsely serrated; lowers are narrower with hooked tips.

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ExtinctBroad-toothed makoCarcharodon hastalis

Broad, flat triangular crown like a white shark—but with completely smooth cutting edges.

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ExtinctOtodus obliquusOtodus obliquus

Large smooth triangular main crown with a prominent cusplet on each side and a heavy root.

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ExtinctSqualicoraxSqualicorax pristodontus

Compressed, triangular to oblique blade with strong serrations and a compact two-lobed root.

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ExtinctCretoxyrhinaCretoxyrhina mantelli

Large smooth-edged triangular lamniform tooth with a substantial bilobed root.

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ExtinctPtychodusPtychodus spp.

Low, broad crushing crown with ridges or bumps instead of a cutting blade.

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ExtinctHybodusHybodus spp.

One central cusp with several smaller lateral cusps arranged on a broad base.

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06

SIDE-BY-SIDE GUIDES

Separate the closest lookalikes.

Living / LivingGreat white sharkversusTiger shark

Flat, broad triangular blade with coarse serrations and no lateral cusplets. Compare that with a strongly curved, can-opener profile with a deep outer notch and compound serrations.

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Extinct / LivingMegalodonversusGreat white shark

Massive triangular crown, regular serrations, thick root and often a visible bourlette between crown and root. Compare that with flat, broad triangular blade with coarse serrations and no lateral cusplets.

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Living / LivingBull sharkversusDusky shark

Broad, heavily serrated upper tooth or a narrower lower tooth with finer serrations. Compare that with broad, slightly oblique serrated upper teeth with narrow, erect, finely serrated lower teeth.

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Living / LivingBull sharkversusOceanic whitetip

Broad, heavily serrated upper tooth or a narrower lower tooth with finer serrations. Compare that with broad serrated upper tooth paired with a more pointed lower tooth serrated mainly near its tip.

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Living / LivingBull sharkversusGreat hammerhead

Broad, heavily serrated upper tooth or a narrower lower tooth with finer serrations. Compare that with triangular, strongly serrated crown that becomes increasingly oblique toward the jaw corners.

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Living / LivingSand tiger sharkversusGoblin shark

Long, slender smooth-edged cusp with a small cusplet on each side and a two-lobed root. Compare that with tall, narrow, smooth-edged teeth with longitudinal grooves; front teeth are especially slender and fang-like.

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Living / LivingShortfin makoversusLongfin mako

Slender, smooth-edged crown that often flexes or curves, with no side cusplets. Compare that with smooth, narrow lamnid tooth; generally broader and less strongly flexed than comparable shortfin-mako teeth.

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Living / ExtinctGreat white sharkversusBroad-toothed mako

Flat, broad triangular blade with coarse serrations and no lateral cusplets. Compare that with broad, flat triangular crown like a white shark—but with completely smooth cutting edges.

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Living / ExtinctTiger sharkversusSnaggletooth shark

A strongly curved, can-opener profile with a deep outer notch and compound serrations. Compare that with upper teeth are broad, dramatically hooked and coarsely serrated; lowers are narrower with hooked tips.

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Living / LivingBroadnose sevengillversusBluntnose sixgill

Lower teeth form a comb with one tall cusp and a row of progressively smaller cusps. Compare that with wide lower tooth with a tall leading cusp followed by a comb of smaller cusps.

Open tooth comparison →
Living / LivingNurse sharkversusZebra shark

Small tooth with a central cusp flanked by several smaller cusplets on a broad base. Compare that with small central cusp bordered by two smaller cusplets on a compact broad base.

Open tooth comparison →
Living / LivingWhale sharkversusBasking shark

Minute, simple, backward-curving teeth arranged in hundreds of rows—tiny relative to the shark. Compare that with very small, smooth, curved teeth with variable hooked or conical crowns.

Open tooth comparison →
Living / LivingBlacktip sharkversusSpinner shark

Narrow, erect upper cusp with fine serrations and a broader base; lower teeth are slimmer and more upright. Compare that with slim triangular teeth; uppers are finely serrated while lowers are narrow and usually smoother.

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Living / LivingGreat hammerheadversusScalloped hammerhead

Triangular, strongly serrated crown that becomes increasingly oblique toward the jaw corners. Compare that with moderately oblique triangular crown with fine serrations and a deeply notched two-lobed root.

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Living / LivingLemon sharkversusSandbar shark

Narrow smooth-edged cusp with fine serrations mostly confined to the base on upper teeth. Compare that with broad, serrated high-cusped upper teeth; narrower and more finely serrated lowers.

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Extinct / ExtinctMegalodonversusOtodus obliquus

Massive triangular crown, regular serrations, thick root and often a visible bourlette between crown and root. Compare that with large smooth triangular main crown with a prominent cusplet on each side and a heavy root.

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Extinct / LivingPtychodusversusHorn shark

Low, broad crushing crown with ridges or bumps instead of a cutting blade. Compare that with pointed front teeth with lateral cusplets grade into broad, flattened molar-like rear teeth.

Open tooth comparison →
Extinct / ExtinctCretoxyrhinaversusSqualicorax

Large smooth-edged triangular lamniform tooth with a substantial bilobed root. Compare that with compressed, triangular to oblique blade with strong serrations and a compact two-lobed root.

Open tooth comparison →

SCIENCE, NOT CERTAINTY THEATER

A tooth is not a tape measure—or a bite-force gauge.

Tooth morphology can inform feeding ecology, but body-length and bite-force numbers require species-specific models, body size and sometimes tooth position. Where no defensible value exists, TuffShark says so instead of recycling an unsourced number.

IMAGE RIGHTS

Original diagrams, clearly labeled.

The tooth plates are original TuffShark vector illustrations created for this guide. They emphasize diagnostic traits and are marked “diagrammatic—not to scale.” No photographs have been copied from museum pages, search results or random websites. External links are references, not image sources.

07

QUICK ANSWERS

Before you name the tooth.

Can one shark tooth prove an exact species?

Sometimes a distinctive tooth—such as a tiger shark cutting tooth or a cow-shark comb tooth—strongly narrows the answer. Many requiem-shark teeth overlap, so genus or family may be the most defensible result.

Does a black tooth mean megalodon?

No. Fossil color is controlled mainly by minerals in the surrounding sediment. Shape, cutting edge, cusplets, root, size, formation age and locality carry more identification value.

Can tooth size reveal the shark's length?

Only when a published relationship matches both the species and tooth position. The guide therefore limits numerical estimates instead of applying one formula to every tooth.

Are the tooth pictures copyrighted?

Every tooth plate on this guide is an original TuffShark vector illustration. It is a diagram of identification traits, not a copied specimen photograph.