Megalodon sharks tooth?
We find lots of great shells on Captiva but we don’t normally find too many SHARK’S TEETH… especially a big huge chunk (almost 3 inches long) of a fossilized MEGALODON SHARK TOOTH.
Jen, Karen and Dexter (St Louis)
Jen, Karen and Dexter (I actually think it was Dexter) found this piece of tooth that Jaws must have lost 6 to 12 million years ago. They found it on the beach at South Seas Island Resort this past weekend and called it their best find yet. Yep, I’d say so! That is pretty lucky… but it looks like luck comes easily to them because they had won this vacation on an online drawing. A free week at South Seas! Weehoo!
Kaitlyn
There was another lucky girl and a good find this weekend …..This is 8 year old Kaitlyn holding another mysterious find she found on the beach off West Gulf Drive. Her grandparents posted this on iLoveShelling FaceBook page and think it’s a CABRIT’S MUREX but I’m thinking it could be a ROSE MUREX but still not sure from the photos. Whichever shell it is.. it’s a fantastic find!! Her grandparents Sue and Mitch told me as soon as she saw it, knew it was a special shell. Good eye, Kaitlyn!
Kaitlyn's murex
I also met shelling sister Anna Lemons today.
Anna (Ohio) with her wentletrap
She let us know in her comments that she would coming to Sanibel to find WENTLETRAPS at the lighthouse… and looky what she found. Not just any WENTLETRAP, but a big honkin wentletrap! Look at that smile…happy girl!
Looks like there were some pretty lucky people the last few days. I didnt happen to find many shells but I did enjoy meeting such nice shellers and being outside.
Although not so happy Sanibel and Captiva are getting closer.
But really happy to see this little girl soaking in this beautiful sunset.
Ok.. can I just move in?
Pam, That is one big tooth! As for Kaitlyn’s murex, I would prefer to actually examine it, but I believe that it is a Cabrit’s murex or Haustellum cabritii, http://www.gastropods.com/3/Shell_1023.shtml . Cabrit’s murex is usually larger than the Rose murex, Haustellum rubidum, http://www.gastropods.com/7/Shell_2897.shtml and has more spines on its siphonal canal (or “tail”, but it really is not a tail).
The reason that these spines are not as evident on Kaitlyn’s murex is that this shell normally lives in relatively deep water (over 50 feet) and has probably been pushed and knocked over many miles of hard ocean bottom and sand on its journey to Sanibel Island. During this current and wave induced trip, the rather fragile spines have been knocked off the shell leaving only their short stubs, as seen in your pictures.
Finding a Cabrit’s murex on Sanibel Island is very special. Kaitlyn certainly does have a “good eye”. They are so rare that few people have ever found one walking the beaches of Sanibel & Captiva Islands. Although I have found them scuba diving, I have never found one on Sanibel Island. The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum website, http://shellmuseum.org/shells.cfm does not have a picture of the Cabrit’s murex because it is so uncommon to find this shell on Sanibel Island. I’m sure that Dr. Leal would like to take a picture of Kaitlyn’s murex for the museum’s website, if she and her grandparents would go to the shell museum and show it to him. Cheers.
Thank you so much for the info, MK! Kaitlyn went back up north before she could take it to the shell museum or for even me to look at it. So whatever it is, it’s a treasure. Thanks again.
Wow, what amazing finds! I love knowing that there are new mysteries out there!
Oh I LOVE the shark’s tooth!! Can I have it??
WOW, what a find…and I’de NEVEr want to meet the fella that owned that tooth in the first place.
I just love your photos… we are so snowy cold up here in CT, a reprieve on your beautiful islands would be wonderful. Until we sell our house, ain’t happen’n. *sigh*
WOW…what a tooth!
And I cannot believe how much that sandbar has started to curve around toward Sanibel. When we were there the tide/water was moving so fast thru the pass, what do you think will happen if that closes? Will there be a bay of sorts there under the bridge? Or will the water just cease to flow? Hmmmm…something to ponder. Was worried for a bit when you didn’t post for a few days. Hope you are well and making some fabulous shell finds!
That sharks tooth is way cool. So is Kaitlyn’s murex. I love the murexes (?) Am glad to see you posting again as well. It is snowing like crazy here in Louisville KY and I hate driving in it. But seeing your new pics has taken my heart rate down a few beats. I needed the calming….LOL Thanks.
Does any one know why we don’t find many shark’s teeth on Sanibel?? There certainly are plenty of sharks there, as there are in any ocean. You would think they would wash ashore just as the shells do!
Awww. Christine and Roxanne! That’s so sweet that you missed me!!!! heehee. I’m fine- I just had so much going on the last few days and didn’t have a spare moment to even get to the beach as much as I like…or to post. xoxo
So very glad to hear it!!
SOOO cool to find a sharks tooth! I’ve been shelling San/Cap since 1983 and NEVER have I seen a tooth like that! :) WOW! 33 days until I get there to shell myself! I hope to meet you! :)
Ahh, I was experiencing “I Love Shelling” withdrawal but what fantastic treasures have come your way. The tooth surely beats those pig feet for miscellaneous critter body parts found on the beach but that was quite a cache of traps that followed them in too.
Thanks so much for sharing your adventures. I have a few shell books but seeing your pix and learning a bit about them from you is so much more interesting. One of these days….
Can anyone recommend a good shell identification book?
Great sharks tooth. Looks like a Meg to me. It’s rare to find that nice of a piece here in the “Sharks Tooth Capital” so it’s really great they found it there. Never found a Murex like that either so really nice for a sheller in training.
Wow – that is one really large shark tooth. Amazing to think about where it came from and how far it traveled.
The big teeth are not uncommon to find on the Englewood/Venice beaches but you pretty much have to dive 10 to 15 feet for the big guys. I talked to a guy that pulled his kayak up onto the beach at Gasparilla Island and a big ole meg was staring right at him. When I stayed at Tropical Sands on Sanibel back in November I found a sharks tooth in the parking lot – go figure. I was hoping the dredging at Stump Pass would yield some good teeth but they have the area all roped off for safety of all things.
Awesome find!!! I am in Maine with a blizzard going on outside. I am counting the days till I come back to BEAUTIFUL Sanibel !!! (April) I am so happy to have found you site!
That Meg tooth is such an awesome find! When they were dredging Blind Pass, there were several reports of Cabrit’s murex. I was there one day and a sheller pulled one out of his bag and showed me. It still had a few spines on it, even.
Hi Pam! Thanks so much for posting the pictures! My mom, Karen, was actually the lucky one to find the Megalodon tooth and my dad, Dexter, was the one that convinced her it was some kind of sharks tooth! We ended up going to the Shell Museum before we left and they also confirmed that it is indeed a Megalodon tooth! What an awesome trip we had an it is so neat to see this on your blog :) Thanks again!
oh i lost that tooth on the beach that you were holding can i have it back?