6.8 cm dagger-shaped tooth of Otodus obliquus

6.8 cm dagger-shaped tooth of Otodus obliquus

The tooth of Otodus obliquus, which is quite large at 6.8 cm, is pointed and dagger-shaped. The shiny enamel is yellowish and the two typical lateral cusps are very well preserved. The slightly wider white bourelette is also clearly visible. The white tooth root shows no signs of repair and is solid. As one of the first true ‘giant toothed sharks’, O. obliquus is considered an important apex predator that could reach a body length of up to 9 metres. The teeth are the most common fossil of this species: they grow up to 10 cm long, have a fairly straight, triangular shape with smooth cutting edges, a solid root and a lateral secondary tooth (‘small tooth’) on the left and right. As an effective hunter, O. obliquus probably fed on fish and other sea creatures, with its smooth teeth enabling it to pierce its prey.