False Mako Tooth
Parotodus benedeni
Markings and exact colorations may vary.
A thick, smooth-edged, strongly curved tooth from a rare extinct open-ocean shark, one of the great Florida trophies.
- Typical size
- 1–3 in
- How often it turns up
- Very rare
- Collecting
- Check local rules
- Handling
- Sharp edges
Florida needs no fossil permit for shark teeth, but state parks, national seashores and wildlife refuges don't allow collecting, and private land needs the owner's permission.
How to tell it apart
- Very thick and heavy for its size
- Smooth curved blade with a hooked tip
- Massive bulbous root
Where to find these in Florida
Beaches rated very good or excellent for shark teeth. Each page shows today’s score, the best window and access details.
- Caspersen Beach · Venice
- Englewood Beach (Chadwick Park) · Englewood
- Fort Clinch State Park · Fernandina Beach
- Lighthouse Point Park · Ponce Inlet
- Stump Pass Beach State Park · Englewood
- Turner Beach · Captiva
- Venice Beach · Venice
- Amelia Island State Park · Amelia Island
- Anastasia State Park · St. Augustine
- Bethune Beach · New Smyrna Beach
- Brohard Paw Park · Venice
- Crescent Beach · St. Augustine
Found one?
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More shark teeth in the field guide
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