3.7 cm Araloselachus cuspidatus (sand tiger shark †) tooth from Germany

3.7 cm Araloselachus cuspidatus (sand tiger shark †) tooth from Germany

The 3.7 cm long tooth of Araloselachus cuspidatus was found in southern Germany and is in good condition. The typical lateral cusps are no longer present. Araloselachus cuspidatus reached an estimated body length of about 3.5 meters. The teeth are strongly built, with a narrow, high crown, sharp cutting edges, and usually several small lateral cusps that often look like saw teeth. In rare cases, the teeth can grow up to 5 cm long. The root is V-shaped and symmetrical. This makes Araloselachus cuspidatus a medium-sized shark, comparable to today's sand tiger sharks, and one of the largest shark species in the Miocene molasse seas of Central Europe.