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How to Search for Shark Teeth on Venice Beach in Florida

Venice Beach in Florida is full of shark teeth, many of which are fossilized. The reason the beaches have so many shark teeth is partly because the warm waters in this region have harboured sharks for millions of years. The geology of the area has favored fossilization and the result is an awful lot of shark teeth. You may wish to collect the teeth as souvenirs or to make into ornaments and jewelry. People with an interest in marine zoology or palaeontology find the teeth interesting in themselves.

Things You'll Need

Sunscreen, sunglasses and a sun hat
Bottle of water
Fabric bag
Identification guide to shark teeth

Instructions

- 1
  Check the tide times. The best time to search for beach treasures is shortly after a tide, especially a high tide, recedes. When a beach is busy, go beach hunting in the early morning before most people arrive.
- 2
  Put on sunscreen, sunglasses and a sunhat. You might not notice yourself getting burnt when engrossed in searching for shark teeth. Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
- 3
  Walk along the tide line from the busy part of the beach to a more deserted end. The tide line is the line of debris, including seaweed and litter, in the middle of the beach.
- 4
  Look for the triangular shape of a shark tooth, some of which will be quite small. Once you have your eye in, you'll spot triangular objects very quickly. In particular, look for black objects. Fossilized shark teeth are very dark.
- 5
  Pick up possible teeth and examine them more closely. Some might be small pebbles or broken shells. Discard these and put any shark teeth in your bag.
- 6
  Try to identify the teeth with an identification guide, widely available in Venice or online. For a definitive answer on the kind of shark a tooth came from, consult an expert at a museum.

Animals & Science