How to Identify Shark Teeth: A Beginner's Visual Guide to Common Species

So you've been out on the water, sifter in hand, and you've pulled something dark and triangular out of the sand. Congratulations — you probably just found a shark tooth. But which one? Knowing how to identify shark teeth is one of the most satisfying skills a fossil hunter can develop, and once you know what to look for, you'll never look at a beach the same way again. That's exactly why we built the MoonShark Shark Tooth I.D. Guide — a free visual reference right on our website. This post walks you through the most common species you're likely to find so you can start identifying your finds on the spot.

What Makes a Fossil Shark Tooth Different from a Fresh One?

Before we dive into species identification, here's a key fact: most shark teeth you find on Florida beaches and rivers are fossils, not fresh teeth. They've been buried in sediment for thousands — sometimes millions — of years, which is why they come out black, gray, or dark brown instead of white. The mineralization process replaces the original tooth material with minerals from the surrounding sediment, and that's what preserves them. Fresh white shark teeth do wash up occasionally, but the dark fossilized ones are what most hunters are after.

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand tiger shark teeth are among the most commonly found along the East Coast and Gulf Coast of Florida — and one of the easiest to identify once you know what you're looking for. They're long, narrow, and needle-like with a slender central cusp and one or two small cusplets (tiny side points) flanking the main point. The root is wide and U-shaped. Most finds range from half an inch to about an inch long. Because of their distinct shape, sand tiger teeth are a favorite among beginner collectors and one of the most satisfying first finds.

Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier)

Tiger shark teeth are some of the most visually striking you can find — and a crowd favorite among collectors. The defining feature is the deeply serrated, curved blade with a pronounced sideways bend, almost like a comb with a hooked tip. Tiger shark teeth are wide at the base and taper to a curved point. The serrations are coarse and irregular, which makes them easy to distinguish from other species. They're medium to large in size, and once you've seen one, they're unmistakable.

Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias)

Great white shark teeth are a holy grail for fossil hunters — large, triangular, and immediately recognizable. Finding one is a serious score. They're broad, symmetrical, and triangular with finely serrated edges running all the way to the base. Great white teeth lack the cusplets you'd see on sand tiger teeth — the blade is clean and uniform from tip to root. The root is wide and flat. If you find something big, triangular, and finely serrated all the way to the base — that's your great white.

Lemon Shark (Negaprion brevirostris)

Lemon shark teeth are small but distinctive — and very common in Florida waters, making them a frequent find for Gulf Coast hunters. They're narrow and smooth-edged with a slender, slightly curved central cusp and small but visible cusplets on either side. The root is broad relative to the crown, giving it a distinctive flared base. They tend to run under an inch, but their smooth edges and wide flared root make them easy to distinguish from sand tiger teeth, which are the most similar in shape.

Snaggletooth Shark (Hemipristis serra)

The snaggletooth shark is an extinct species — which means every tooth you find is a fossil. They're a favorite among serious collectors and look unlike anything else in your collection. Upper and lower teeth look very different from each other, which makes this species particularly interesting to collect as a set. Upper teeth are broad and triangular with coarse serrations only on the back edge — the front edge is smooth. Lower teeth are narrow and blade-like with serrations on both edges near the tip. If you find a tooth that's only serrated on one edge, snaggletooth should be your first guess.

Mako Shark (Isurus oxyrinchus)

Mako shark teeth are sleek, sharp, and elegant — a beautiful find that serious collectors always get excited about. They're long, narrow, and smooth-edged with no serrations at all. Mako teeth have a gracefully curved, blade-like cusp with no cusplets, tapering to a very fine sharp point. The overall appearance is slender and elegant compared to the broader profiles of great white or tiger shark teeth. Mako teeth are often confused with sand tiger teeth, but the key difference is the absence of cusplets and the cleaner, larger profile.

Quick ID Cheat Sheet

Sand Tiger: Narrow, needle-like, with small cusplets. No serrations.

Tiger Shark: Wide, curved, heavily serrated like a comb. Distinctive hooked tip.

Great White: Broad, symmetrical triangle with fine serrations edge to edge. No cusplets.

Lemon Shark: Small, smooth, narrow cusp with a wide flared root and small cusplets.

Snaggletooth: Serrated on one edge only. Upper and lower teeth look very different from each other.

Mako: Long, smooth, curved — no serrations, no cusplets. Sleek and elegant.

See Them Side by Side — Use the MoonShark I.D. Guide

Words can only take you so far — the best way to learn shark tooth identification is to see them visually side by side. Head over to the MoonShark Shark Tooth I.D. Guide at moonsharksifters.com/idguide for a free visual reference of the most common species you'll find on Florida beaches and beyond. Every MoonShark kit also includes a waterproof ID tag so you can identify your finds right there in the water. Happy hunting. 🦈