Compare Different Shark Species
Flip each species card to move from the shark itself to its tooth.
Sharks on one side, teeth on the other
Learn about common sharks and shark teeth typically found in the Southeastern United States.
Powerful predator
Bull sharks are known for their stocky bodies, blunt snouts, and aggressive behavior.
- Can tolerate fresh and saltwater.
- 3rd most human attacks.
- Known for the strongest pound-for-pound bite.
Bull shark teeth
Bull shark teeth are triangular with serrated edges.
- Broad triangular crown.
- Serrated cutting edges.
- Fossils may show a visible bourlette.
Warm-water coastal shark
Lemon sharks are often found in shallow subtropical waters, mangroves, bays, and sandy coastal areas.
- Named for their yellow-brown coloring.
- Viviparous – give birth to live young rather than laying eggs.
- Can grow to around 10 feet long.
Lemon shark teeth
Lemon shark teeth are typically narrow, pointed, and built for gripping slippery prey rather than heavy cutting.
- Slim, pointed crown.
- Often resemble the look of a “T”.
- Smooth edges, no serrations.
The giant shark
The Megalodon is extinct, but was once the largest shark to ever live.
- Thought to have been between 50-70 feet long.
- Teeth have been carbon dated between ~2.5 to 23 million years ago.
- Leading extinction theory: they died out from starvation.
Megalodon teeth
Megalodon teeth are large, triangular, serrated, and often show a clear bourlette near the base of the crown.
- Large triangular shape.
- Strong serrations.
- Bourlette is an important ID feature.
Ragged-toothed hunter
Sand tiger sharks have a fierce look because of their protruding teeth, but they are generally slow-moving coastal sharks.
- Often found near reefs and sandy bottoms.
- Can gulp air to help control buoyancy.
Sand tiger teeth
Sand tiger teeth are long, narrow, and spike-like, often with small side cusplets near the root.
- Thin pointed crown resembles a “Y” shape.
- Good for gripping fish.
- Side cusplets can help with identification.
Fast open-ocean shark
Mako sharks are built for speed, with streamlined bodies and powerful tails suited for chasing fast prey.
- Can reach speeds up to 45 mph.
- Often associated with open water.
- Hunt fish and squid.
Mako teeth
Mako teeth are slender, smooth-edged, and sharply pointed, designed for gripping fast-moving prey.
- No serrated edges, smooth.
- Narrow, dagger-like shape.
- Often curved slightly inward.
Iconic apex predator
Great white sharks are large, powerful predators found in many coastal ocean regions around the world.
- Known for size, power, and speed.
- Feed on fish and marine mammals.
- #1 in unprovoked human attacks.
Great white teeth
Great white teeth are broad, triangular, and serrated, built for cutting large prey.
- Serrated edges.
- Broad triangular crown.
- Almost identical to Mako teeth. Mako = no serrations, Great White = serrations.
Extinct snaggletooth shark
Hemipristis is an extinct shark often called the snaggletooth shark because of its distinctive tooth shapes.
- Their lineage dates back further than the Megalodon shark. 26 to 28 million years ago.
- The scientific name Hemipristis comes from Greek, meaning “half-saw” (Hemi = half, pristis = saw).
- Feed on bony fishes, other small sharks, rays, and cephalopods.
Hemipristis teeth
Hemipristis teeth can be curved and blade-like, with striking serrations that make them stand out from many other teeth.
- Serrated upper teeth and hooked lower teeth.
- Commonly considered rare fossils to collect.
- Known for having extremely large, coarse serrations on the shoulders of the teeth.
Striped coastal hunter
Tiger sharks are large predators with a broad diet and faint stripes when young, giving them their name.
- Often called “garbage cans of the sea”.
- Can reach up to 15 feet long and 2000 lbs.
- 2nd most human attacks.
Tiger shark teeth
Tiger shark teeth are easy to recognize because they are slanted, serrated, and built for slicing.
- Curved, slanted profile.
- Heavy serrations.
- Useful for cutting tough prey.
Quick shark tooth species questions
How can you tell shark tooth species apart?
Start with the overall shape, then compare the edges, root, crown, and serrations. Use photo guides to make comparisons as needed.
Which shark teeth are usually serrated?
Bull shark, tiger shark, great white, megalodon, and hemipristis teeth commonly have serrations. The size and pattern of the serrations can help narrow down the species.
Which shark teeth usually have smooth edges?
Lemon shark, mako shark, and many sand tiger shark teeth often have smooth edges instead of serrations. Smooth edges are one of the fastest clues to check during identification.