Shape first
Broad cutting triangles, smooth daggers, hooked blades, combs and crushing plates separate major dental designs.
VISUAL FIELD GUIDE / TOOTH ID
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.
Start the identification flow ↓IDENTIFICATION WORKBENCH
Choose observable traits and the guide ranks morphological candidates. It does not pretend that every isolated tooth has a unique species-level answer.
READ THE TOOTH
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.
STEP-BY-STEP IDENTIFICATION
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.
HOW TO READ THE RESULT
Broad cutting triangles, smooth daggers, hooked blades, combs and crushing plates separate major dental designs.
Use magnification. Worn serrations can disappear and fresh damage can imitate coarse teeth along an edge.
Upper, lower, front and side teeth from one shark can differ enough to resemble separate species.
For fossils, rock age and collection location often separate lookalikes better than color.
VISUAL REFERENCE LIBRARY
Flat, broad triangular blade with coarse serrations and no lateral cusplets.
Open visual profile →LivingTiger sharkGaleocerdo cuvierA strongly curved, can-opener profile with a deep outer notch and compound serrations.
Open visual profile →LivingBull sharkCarcharhinus leucasBroad, heavily serrated upper tooth or a narrower lower tooth with finer serrations.
Open visual profile →LivingSand tiger sharkCarcharias taurusLong, slender smooth-edged cusp with a small cusplet on each side and a two-lobed root.
Open visual profile →LivingShortfin makoIsurus oxyrinchusSlender, smooth-edged crown that often flexes or curves, with no side cusplets.
Open visual profile →LivingGreat hammerheadSphyrna mokarranTriangular, strongly serrated crown that becomes increasingly oblique toward the jaw corners.
Open visual profile →LivingLemon sharkNegaprion brevirostrisNarrow smooth-edged cusp with fine serrations mostly confined to the base on upper teeth.
Open visual profile →LivingOceanic whitetipCarcharhinus longimanusBroad serrated upper tooth paired with a more pointed lower tooth serrated mainly near its tip.
Open visual profile →LivingSandbar sharkCarcharhinus plumbeusBroad, serrated high-cusped upper teeth; narrower and more finely serrated lowers.
Open visual profile →LivingBroadnose sevengillNotorynchus cepedianusLower teeth form a comb with one tall cusp and a row of progressively smaller cusps.
Open visual profile →LivingNurse sharkGinglymostoma cirratumSmall tooth with a central cusp flanked by several smaller cusplets on a broad base.
Open visual profile →LivingCommon thresherAlopias vulpinusRelatively small, smooth, compressed blade that becomes oblique in lateral positions.
Open visual profile →LivingGoblin sharkMitsukurina owstoniTall, narrow, smooth-edged teeth with longitudinal grooves; front teeth are especially slender and fang-like.
Open visual profile →LivingLongfin makoIsurus paucusSmooth, narrow lamnid tooth; generally broader and less strongly flexed than comparable shortfin-mako teeth.
Open visual profile →LivingPorbeagleLamna nasusSlender smooth central cusp with a small cusplet on each side and a strongly two-lobed root.
Open visual profile →LivingSalmon sharkLamna ditropisSmooth, pointed lamnid tooth with paired basal cusplets, closely resembling the porbeagle.
Open visual profile →LivingWhale sharkRhincodon typusMinute, simple, backward-curving teeth arranged in hundreds of rows—tiny relative to the shark.
Open visual profile →LivingBasking sharkCetorhinus maximusVery small, smooth, curved teeth with variable hooked or conical crowns.
Open visual profile →LivingMegamouth sharkMegachasma pelagiosTiny, strongly curved hook-like teeth with a broad base, repeated in many rows.
Open visual profile →LivingBlue sharkPrionace glaucaUpper teeth are curved and finely serrated; lower teeth are narrow, straighter and often smoother.
Open visual profile →LivingBlacktip sharkCarcharhinus limbatusNarrow, erect upper cusp with fine serrations and a broader base; lower teeth are slimmer and more upright.
Open visual profile →LivingSpinner sharkCarcharhinus brevipinnaSlim triangular teeth; uppers are finely serrated while lowers are narrow and usually smoother.
Open visual profile →LivingDusky sharkCarcharhinus obscurusBroad, slightly oblique serrated upper teeth with narrow, erect, finely serrated lower teeth.
Open visual profile →LivingSilky sharkCarcharhinus falciformisUpper teeth are oblique and finely serrated with a distinct notch; lower teeth are narrow and erect.
Open visual profile →LivingGalapagos sharkCarcharhinus galapagensisTriangular serrated upper tooth; narrow erect lower tooth with finer serrations.
Open visual profile →LivingCaribbean reef sharkCarcharhinus pereziBroad triangular, finely serrated upper teeth and narrow lower teeth with small serrations.
Open visual profile →LivingBlacktip reef sharkCarcharhinus melanopterusSmall, narrow triangular teeth with fine serrations; upper teeth are broader than lowers.
Open visual profile →LivingWhitetip reef sharkTriaenodon obesusNarrow central cusp flanked by small side cusplets; edges are smooth to weakly serrated.
Open visual profile →LivingScalloped hammerheadSphyrna lewiniModerately oblique triangular crown with fine serrations and a deeply notched two-lobed root.
Open visual profile →LivingBonnetheadSphyrna tiburoSmall front teeth with short cusps grade into broader, flatter crushing teeth toward the jaw corners.
Open visual profile →LivingGreenland sharkSomniosus microcephalusSmall narrow upper teeth and broader, strongly oblique lower teeth that form a continuous cutting edge.
Open visual profile →LivingBluntnose sixgillHexanchus griseusWide lower tooth with a tall leading cusp followed by a comb of smaller cusps.
Open visual profile →LivingFrilled sharkChlamydoselachus anguineusThree long, slender, backward-curving cusps on a broad base, forming a trident-like tooth.
Open visual profile →LivingZebra sharkStegostoma tigrinumSmall central cusp bordered by two smaller cusplets on a compact broad base.
Open visual profile →LivingHorn sharkHeterodontus francisciPointed front teeth with lateral cusplets grade into broad, flattened molar-like rear teeth.
Open visual profile →LivingCookiecutter sharkIsistius brasiliensisLarge triangular lower teeth lock into a saw-like band; tiny upper teeth act mainly as hooks.
Open visual profile →LivingAtlantic angel sharkSquatina dumerilSmooth, pointed conical cusp on a broad base, similar in upper and lower jaws.
Open visual profile →LivingSpotted wobbegongOrectolobus maculatusLong smooth central cusp with small lateral cusplets on a broad compact root.
Open visual profile →Massive triangular crown, regular serrations, thick root and often a visible bourlette between crown and root.
Open visual profile →ExtinctSnaggletooth sharkHemipristis serraUpper teeth are broad, dramatically hooked and coarsely serrated; lowers are narrower with hooked tips.
Open visual profile →ExtinctBroad-toothed makoCarcharodon hastalisBroad, flat triangular crown like a white shark—but with completely smooth cutting edges.
Open visual profile →ExtinctOtodus obliquusOtodus obliquusLarge smooth triangular main crown with a prominent cusplet on each side and a heavy root.
Open visual profile →ExtinctSqualicoraxSqualicorax pristodontusCompressed, triangular to oblique blade with strong serrations and a compact two-lobed root.
Open visual profile →ExtinctCretoxyrhinaCretoxyrhina mantelliLarge smooth-edged triangular lamniform tooth with a substantial bilobed root.
Open visual profile →ExtinctPtychodusPtychodus spp.Low, broad crushing crown with ridges or bumps instead of a cutting blade.
Open visual profile →ExtinctHybodusHybodus spp.One central cusp with several smaller lateral cusps arranged on a broad base.
Open visual profile →SIDE-BY-SIDE GUIDES
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.
Open tooth comparison →Extinct / LivingMegalodonversusGreat white sharkMassive 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.
Open tooth comparison →Living / LivingBull sharkversusDusky sharkBroad, 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.
Open tooth comparison →Living / LivingBull sharkversusOceanic whitetipBroad, 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.
Open tooth comparison →Living / LivingBull sharkversusGreat hammerheadBroad, 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.
Open tooth comparison →Living / LivingSand tiger sharkversusGoblin sharkLong, 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.
Open tooth comparison →Living / LivingShortfin makoversusLongfin makoSlender, 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.
Open tooth comparison →Living / ExtinctGreat white sharkversusBroad-toothed makoFlat, 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.
Open tooth comparison →Living / ExtinctTiger sharkversusSnaggletooth sharkA 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.
Open tooth comparison →Living / LivingBroadnose sevengillversusBluntnose sixgillLower 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 sharkSmall 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 sharkMinute, 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 sharkNarrow, 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.
Open tooth comparison →Living / LivingGreat hammerheadversusScalloped hammerheadTriangular, 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.
Open tooth comparison →Living / LivingLemon sharkversusSandbar sharkNarrow 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.
Open tooth comparison →Extinct / ExtinctMegalodonversusOtodus obliquusMassive 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.
Open tooth comparison →Extinct / LivingPtychodusversusHorn sharkLow, 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 / ExtinctCretoxyrhinaversusSqualicoraxLarge 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
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.
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.
QUICK ANSWERS
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.
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.
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.
Every tooth plate on this guide is an original TuffShark vector illustration. It is a diagram of identification traits, not a copied specimen photograph.