Collecting prehistoric sharks teeth has been a favorite pastime of visitors and residents of the Venice area for years. They may be black, brown, or gray, depending on the minerals in the soil in which they have been buried. They range in size from one eighth inch to three inches, and on rare occasions more.

Sharks of all species continually shed their teeth and grow new ones. They have 40 or more teeth in each jaw. Behind the functional rows or teeth are seven other rows of teeth developing into mature dentures to replace teeth as they are shed or lost. In ten years, an average Tiger shark can produce as many as 24,000 teeth.

Besides sharks teeth, fossils of other marine creatures are also found in this area. Because millions of years ago most of Florida was under water, many fossils are found inland as well as on the beaches. State law prohibits digging without a permit however.

LEMON

CARCHARODON

The largest and most impressive of extinct sharks

DUSKY

SAND SHARK

BULL SHARK

Bull, Dusty, and Black-tipped are abundant, however they are difficult to distinguish from each other and from Lemon Sharks

EXTINCT MAKO

SHORTFIN MAKO

Mako teeth range from 0.25" to 2" long and are one of the more plentiful finds

EXTINCT TIGER SHARK

ANOTHER TIGER SHARK

Tiger shark teeth are usually less than 1"

SNAGGLETOOTH

Identification of sharks teeth, which come in many different shapes and sizes, is relatively easy. All of the teeth in the mouth of a single type of shark are the same shape. They vary only in size. The shape of the teeth of each species is distinct.