2.53" Fossil "Mako" Shark Tooth - Dakhla, Morocco

This is a 2.53" fossil tooth of Carcharodon (Cosmopolitodus) hastalis, an extinct species of large mackerel shark that cruised the oceans during the Miocene and Pliocene epochs, approximately 23 to 3.6 million years ago. This specimen was collected from the phosphate deposits near Dakhla in Western Sahara, Morocco, a region well known for producing high-quality shark teeth.

C. hastalis is often considered a close relative — and possible ancestor — of the modern Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias). Unlike the serrated teeth of today’s Great White, hastalis teeth typically feature smooth cutting edges, making them easily distinguishable. These broad, triangular teeth were perfectly adapted for grasping and slicing through prey, indicating this shark was an apex predator of its time.