Fossil Deer Tooth
Odocoileus virginianus
Markings and exact colorations may vary.
A small fossil molar with crescent-shaped enamel ridges on the chewing surface.
- Typical size
- 0.4–0.8 in
- How often it turns up
- Uncommon
- Collecting
- Restricted
- Handling
- Safe to handle
A vertebrate fossil that is not a shark or ray tooth: collecting it on Florida state land or water, including beaches below the high-tide line, requires a Florida Museum Fossil Permit, and significant finds must be reported. Collecting is banned in Florida state parks and national seashores.
How to tell it apart
- Small molar with two crescent-shaped enamel loops
- Short crown and roots
- Dark brown to black from fossilization
Where to find these in Florida
Beaches rated very good or excellent for fossils. Each page shows today’s score, the best window and access details.
- Caspersen Beach · Venice
- Englewood Beach (Chadwick Park) · Englewood
- Stump Pass Beach State Park · Englewood
- Turner Beach · Captiva
- Turtle Beach · Siesta Key
Found one?
Photograph it and BeachNut ranks the likely matches with a confidence read, then logs it to your collection with the beach and date.
Browsing beaches and the full field guide is free. A free account logs unlimited finds and gives you three photo identifications a day.
Commonly confused with
Fossil Peccary ToothPlatygonus and Mylohyus species
Deer molars have crescent-shaped ridges; peccary molars have four rounded bumps.
More fossils in the field guide
Get Florida beachcombing tips
Occasional emails: what's washing up, shelling tips and new BeachNut features. No spam, unsubscribe any time.