.84" Pathological Fossil Shark (Otodus) Tooth - Morocco

This is a very interesting fossil. It's a pathalogical, .84" long Otodus obliquus with a growth abnormality. The crown of the tooth is displaced toward the lingual (tongue) side and bent up toward the labial (cheek) side. This appears as a bulge in the base of the tooth. This is likely the result of feeding. An object wedged against the tooth and caused it to be displaced. The apical (tip) is also slightly bent toward the lingual side. The other features of the tooth are normal. One side of the base is missing.

Tooth abnormalities most often occur when pressure is exerted on the tooth during formation. Teeth form the enamel first, it is soft at first and if pressure is applied before the tooth hardens a deformation can occur.