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How to Find Out What Kind of Shark Tooth You Have

The shape of a tooth is affected by the age and sex of the shark, and the position of the tooth in the jaw. While a variety of field guides are available for shark species, the easiest way to identify a shark tooth is to use a dichotomous key. A dichotomous key offers the reader a series of simple questions that gradually narrow the choices down to a single type of shark.

Instructions

- 1
  Obtain a dichotomous key for your region. Dichotomous keys are available in printed form from many book suppliers or from online sources. The Florida Museum of Natural History offers a free interactive shark tooth key online.
- 2
  Examine your shark tooth and make some initial observations. How big is the tooth? Is the tooth straight or curved? Are the edges serrated? If you found the tooth yourself, make a note of the area where you found it. If you purchased the tooth, try to obtain information about where it was collected. This will help you confirm the species.
- 3
  Start at the beginning of the dichotomous key and answer each question in the series, choosing the option that most closely matches your shark took. Follow the directions as you progress through the key. Keep the tooth nearby for comparison.
- 4
  When you reach the end of the key, compare your tooth to the suggested species. If it matches, you have found your shark. If it does not match, go back and check that you have answered each question correctly. If you still cannot find the shark that matches your tooth, you might need to obtain a more detailed key, or your tooth might be from a rare species that is not normally found in the region.

Animals & Science