Raise your hand if you have watched The Meg? Who would have thought that such a big shark existed, right? Well, not any more but the movie sure did send down some chills. Bet you will think twice before diving into the deep sea. Watch out Marine Biologists because you never know in whose jaws your might get trapped!

So, when you think about sharks, what comes to your mind?

Vicious animal

Killer

Torn limbs

How about a shark’s tooth? One wouldn’t willingly insert their hand into a shark’s mouth, even if it was dead but these babies are beautiful and a rare find… or so people thought.

Welcome to Venice, Florida… where the beaches are filled with so many shark tooth that the city has now been given a second name called “The Shark Tooth Capital of the World".

So, how did these shark teeth came along the coast of Venice?

History

Around 10 million years ago, Florida had been submerged under the water. This area was swarming with sharks. As time passed, the water receded and the land came in sight. The sharks died, leaving behind their disintegrated skeletons and fossilized teeth. Today, this layer of fossil runs 35 feet deep and as storms strike and the waves crash on the beach, the fossilized teeth wash up on the shore.

From south’s Nokomis Beach to Manasota Key, there’s a bottomless supply of these shark teeth and people collect them as souvenirs. You might even see the streets lined with vendors selling them tied to a leather lanyard.

Before you go all “Animal Rights” on us for suggesting you buy these shark teeth, know this: no living species are harmed in making these necklaces. Every accessory is made form the shark teeth that are found on land. So, are you ready to find yours?

How to Spot a Shark Tooth

Well, it’s not that easy, we can tell you that for sure! You need to have a “shark tooth eye” to identify one.

The shark teeth mingle quite well with beach shells. Here’s how you can tell them apart:

• Its triangle shaped
• It has a shiny and smooth surface
• It’s a beautiful black color and glistens like an obsidian
• It has serrated edges
• It measures at the same size of a coin

If you are lucky, you might even find ones that are amber or golden in color. They do make an incredible treasure and are way more exciting to collect than shells. These shark teeth belong to Tiger, Great White, Bull, Mako and many other species of sharks.

And yes, the Florida water also had the Megalodon. While it is highly unlikely, in fact impossible that a Megalodon teeth might wash up on the shore but chances are that you might get your hands on something big. The sedimentary and shallow conditions of the Beaches created thick fossil beds. Now, when waves hit these beds, the fossil layer gets eroded, which exposes the shark teeth.