IN SEARCH OF MEGALODON
Megalodon : Hunting the Hunter - two books I highly
recommend for those finding themselves becoming
passionate about this enthralling, addictive sport.
Here are some interesting facts on local Paleontology:
Almost all of Florida was under water about 35
million years ago. It was covered by warm, shallow
seas with an abundance of marine life, most notably,
sharks. A shark continuously sheds row after row
of teeth throughout life. They move forward like
a conveyor belt, by the dozens. Just one shark can
leave up to 30,000 of them on the ocean floor in its
lifetime. Multiply that by the millions of sharks over
the many millions of years and you have a heck of
a lot of shark’s teeth. As time passed and the ocean
bed rose to become Florida State, the deposited shark
teeth were left behind to rise with the land as well
as in the water. This area was a breeding ground for
some massive beasts. Many of these species were
relatives of the sharks of the present time. One of
which, was a distant relative of the great white. The
Megalodon.
Charcarodon megalodon is regarded as one of the
largest and most powerful predators in vertebrate
history. Some estimates put this colossal killer at over
sixty feet in length with a speed of 30 feet per second.
The largest tooth ever found was 7 5/8 inches with
an estimated value of 1.2 to 1.5 million dollars. It is
speculated that this shark would have been over 75
feet in length, about 85,000 pounds and have a jaw
width of 11 feet. Horror factor? A ten.
Megalodon or “Meg” teeth can be found on the
beaches but it’s rare. However, once in a while,
they are found. Because of the rolling surf, most of
the shark’s teeth found on the beaches are usually
tumbled, losing some of the characteristics and
serrations of the original tooth. They are often smaller
than the ones found by those scuba diving offshore
or in the local rivers, where the teeth are relatively
stationary and therefore more pristine.
For scuba divers new to the sport, I recommend
going to your nearest dive shop and inquiring about
a charter off the coast of Venice. You will get a
knowledgeable underwater guide who will show you
how to identify shark’s teeth under a layer of silt,
CONTINUED
which is a bit harder than it sounds. Once you get
the hang of where to look and your eyes get trained
on how to spot them, you’ll come up with a bag of
goodies!
For those who don’t dive or do, but want to experience
fossil hunting on a river, the Peace River is where
it’s at. The Peace River is an excellent example of
prime fossil hunting. With relatively shallow water
and good visibility; even novice fossil hunters can
have an adventure on this exquisite river. The lazily
running waters expose embedded fossils in the earth,
depositing them into pockets of debris. There are so
many beautiful, perfectly preserved shark’s teeth and
fossils here. All you need is a watercraft, be it a kayak
or paddle board, a shovel, and a sifting screen. It’s one
of the most intriguing things about the state of Florida
- these fossilized treasures. Take advantage. You’ll get
hooked. A camera is not a necessity but with the Peace
River’s abundance of wildlife and breathtaking scenery,
you will want one with you. Especially for the glamour
shot of you, all wet, holding up your very first Meg
tooth!
THE SAND DOLLAR | 34