Where to Find Megalodon Teeth in Florida
Finding a shark’s tooth is exciting enough when combing the beach for treasure, but finding an ancient, massive, prehistoric shark’s tooth can make an entire vacation. Where can you find your own megalodon tooth, and what are the tips and tricks you can use to get your own?
Where can I find megalodon teeth in Florida?
- Venice Beach & Venice Fishing Pier
- Casey Key & Manasota Key
- Caspersen Beach
- Jacksonville Beach
- Peace River
But knowing where to look is only the part of the search. Read on to find out more about how you can identify the teeth of this ancient creature, how to find their fossilized teeth, and the best ways you can track them down.
What is a megalodon?
The megalodon is an extinct species of mackerel shark that lived between 3.6 to 23 million years ago. Swimming in the oceans of the Miocene and the Pliocene Periods, they were the apex predators of their time.
The term “megalodon” actually translates to “big tooth”—a product of the pieces they left behind. Because only fragments of fossils have ever been found, scientists don’t know just how large these predators were or their maximum size. Many equate them to the existing Great White, the Sand Tiger, the Whale, or Basking sharks. Because the only part of these ancient sharks are usually their teeth, scientists make estimates on their size through those fossils.
If you’re lucky enough to find a megalodon tooth, the length of it can tell you how big the shark was—each inch of the tooth represents about ten feet of the shark. The largest megalodon tooth that has ever been found was discovered in a desert in Peru at a height of almost 7 and a half inches—making its owner at least 75 feet long.
Megalodon teeth have been found throughout the world, but the majority of them are found in Australia, Japan, and the United States. Reported discoveries in the United States have been made in California, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
How to identify a megalodon tooth
Because sharks can produce up to 25,000 teeth over their lifetime, there are plenty of sharks’ teeth washing up on shore for you to find. While sharks’ teeth can range from around one inch in the tiger shark to about 2 and a half inches for the Great White Shark, the megalodon tooth is typically 3 and a half to 7 inches long.
They are the largest sharks ever known and usually grew between 30 to 70 feet, weighing up to 65 tons. Fossilized teeth will be much darker in color than those that are not fossilized and have fine serrations along the sides. They are also very thick with a bourlette, or a black section between the root and the enamel of the tooth.
One thing to note as you hunt is that just because you find a large tooth, doesn’t make it a megalodon tooth—you could be looking at a Chubutensis tooth. The only difference is a pair of cusplets—tiny extra teeth jutting from each side of the large tooth.
Why are they located in Florida?
When Florida was submerged by water around ten million years ago, it was a hotbed for shark activity. As that water receded into the coastlines we know and love today, they eventually died, leaving their skeletons to disintegrate, but leaving their fossilized teeth behind.
Due to tectonic activity, sediments shifted and started creating formations such as the Peace River Formation—while it is mostly underwater now, the actual Peace River and areas around Venice Beach show where this formation was created, exposing fossils from millions of years ago and allowing fossils to wash ashore.
In areas such as Venice Beach, they sit on a fossil layer that runs at the deepest, 35 feet. Because of this fossil layer, during storms and heavy wave activity, fossils are thrown from that layer and up onto the beach and shallow waters.
Venice Beach & Venice Fishing Pier
While the name “Venice Beach” might elicit thoughts of Los Angeles or even Italy, there is a Venice Beach in Southwest Florida, and it is one of the best spots to find megalodon teeth, along with other fossilized shark teeth.
Although Venice, Florida calls itself the “shark tooth capital of the world” the city has reconstructed the actual Venice Beach, adding sand to combat erosion and therefore burying fossils, making it much harder to find sharks’ teeth on Venice Beach proper.
If you’re looking for assistance, the Venice Fishing Pier at Brohard Park may be helpful—they actually sell supplies in order to help you dig for shark teeth. This area is better than Venice Beach proper for finding fossils, as the beach around it has been less affected by attempts to rebuild it.
Do sharks attack kayaks and can you prevent it? Learn more here.
Casey Key & Manasota Key
When heading out to Venice Beach, check out Casey Key, located between Sarasota and Venice, or Manasota Key, south of Venice—these seem to be the best spots to hunt for megalodon teeth.
Casey Key is a tourist destination, so know that before you go—the beach may be busy. Manasota tends to be a little quieter and more secluded.
If you’re really serious about wanting to find the largest teeth possible, you can also hire a dive boat to take you out past the shore. There are boat captains and guides who offer trips out into deeper water off the shore of Venice Beach and Manasota Key. If you are SCUBA certified, this is an option for you!
Caspersen Beach
Caspersen Beach is still located around Venice, Florida, but is south of the main beaches that draw people to the area. North of Manasota Key, there is a scenic park that allows access to the ocean. Note that the beach here is rockier, which means there will be less people—but also more room for you to hunt for fossils.
The best areas in which to look for megalodon teeth are at the water break and between the beach and the first sand bar.
Jacksonville Beach
If you’re on the east side of the state, consider trying out Jacksonville Beach and any beaches north of Jacksonville. Mickler’s Beach, south of Jacksonville Beach, is known for its sharks’ teeth and is best after a storm.
Because they are both tourist locations, the areas can be crowded. Go early before the crowds to comb the beaches for your megalodon teeth.
Peace River
The ocean isn’t the only place where you can find fossils in Florida—you can also try Peace River. While you’re more likely to find the larger shark teeth near the ocean, it’s still possible to find some while kayaking along Peace River, and it can be more family-friendly to wade in the shallower waters.
Because the water was so shallow, pregnant female megalodons would go to that area to give birth. Because of that, most teeth you can find there are from younger megalodons, as they searched the area for food before getting big enough to head out into the ocean.
As mentioned before, the ancient rock and sediment formations of Peace River are still located under the ocean waves. You can find these fossil formations about a half-mile off the coast and dive to them if you are SCUBA certified.
Tips and Tricks for Fossil Hunting
Before you head out to search for your shark teeth, there are a few tips you should consider. You can find some teeth—both shark and megalodon—just walking along the beach, if you know what to look for. Most smaller sharks’ teeth will appear sharp, triangular, and black; they will range between 1/8 of an inch to about three-quarters, although some can be larger than that.
Another option is going into the water and finding where the waves break—be careful, there is typically a drop-off or a ledge into deeper waters. From there, you can start sifting through the sand with your hands, a strainer, or even a shovel. You can then take it back to the shore to see if you found anything.
When you’re going out fossil hunting, be sure to be prepared for the Florida weather—you’ll want to protect yourself from the sun with both clothing and sunscreen. Also bring something to use to take home your finds, such as a container or a bag.
The best time of the day to go fossil hunting is at low tide, and if you can, go to the beach after a storm. The larger waves are known to bring fossils up to shore.
There are several fantastic locations in Florida, mostly around Venice Beach, where you can search for your megalodon teeth. By making sure you have the proper equipment, take the proper care, and know what you’re looking for, you could be going home with a prehistoric tooth of your own!
RELATED QUESTIONS
What other fossils besides megalodon teeth can I find in Florida?
There are many types of fossils you can find in Florida besides megalodon or shark teeth. Whalebones, giant ground sloth teeth and bones, alligator and camel teeth, saber-tooth cat teeth and, and mastodon and mammoth teeth, bones, and even tusks have been found in Florida.
Do I need a permit to collect fossils in Florida?
If you are collecting vertebrate fossils—like bones, teeth, casts, molds, or remains of any animal with a backbone inside their body—you need a permit which costs $5 annually if you are collecting on state-owned or leased land. If you are simply collecting sharks’ teeth or shells, you do not need a permit. If you are working with a guide or licensed individual, they will typically have a group permit to allow you to collect under their license.
Are there any fossils I’m not allowed to take home?
In Florida, any sort of artifacts relating to Native Americans are considered state property and are not allowed to be removed from Florida waters. These artifacts are any human-altered natural object that is older than 50 years old and removing them could result in a felony offense.
Please note: This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Please consult a legal expert or medical professional to address your specific needs.