Fossil Tapir Tooth
Tapirus veroensis
Markings and exact colorations may vary.
A low, blocky Ice Age tooth with two sharp cross-ridges, from a tapir that once browsed Florida's river swamps.
- Typical size
- 1–1.5 in
- How often it turns up
- Uncommon
- Collecting
- Restricted
- Handling
- Safe to handle
Florida treats this as a vertebrate fossil: collecting one on state-owned land or water — including river bottoms and beaches below the high-tide line — needs a Florida Museum fossil permit. State parks and national seashores don't allow fossil collecting at all. If unsure, photograph it and leave it.
How to tell it apart
- Two prominent transverse ridges across the crown
- Squared, low-crowned shape
- Dark brown to black mineral staining
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?
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More fossils in the field guide
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