لوحة من أسنان سمك القرش «أوتودوس» المتحجرة، وزنها 186 غرامًا

Rarity and Value
This fossil plate preserves an authentic tooth of Otodus obliquus, an extinct giant mackerel shark that inhabited ancient subtropical seas during the Early Eocene approximately 54 million years ago. The specimen displays the characteristic biological morphology of primitive lamniform sharks, including a sharply pointed triangular crown, smooth enamel surface, and broad bifurcated root adapted for gripping prey in open marine environments. Otodus obliquus represents one of the earliest giant predatory sharks known from the Paleogene and occupies a significant evolutionary position within the lineage that later produced enormous apex predators such as Otodus megalodon. Fossil shark teeth are scientifically important because the cartilaginous skeletons of sharks rarely fossilize, leaving teeth as the primary biological evidence for studying their anatomy, ecology, and evolution. Specimens preserved within natural marine limestone matrix are especially valued for maintaining clear anatomical details and preserving direct evidence of ancient marine ecosystems.

Discovery
This specimen originates from the famous phosphate deposits of the Oulad Abdoun Basin near Khouribga, Morocco, one of the world’s most important marine fossil localities. During the Eocene Epoch, this region formed part of a warm shallow sea populated by sharks, rays, bony fish, and marine reptiles. Otodus obliquus functioned as a dominant pelagic predator within these ecosystems, occupying the upper levels of the marine food chain. Fossil teeth from these deposits are uncovered during phosphate mining operations that expose fossil-rich sedimentary layers accumulated over millions of years on the ancient seafloor. The preserved tooth demonstrates biological adaptations associated with active predation, including durable enamel structure and a streamlined conical form designed for piercing soft-bodied prey. Fossils from these Moroccan deposits provide important paleontological evidence for understanding shark diversification after the end-Cretaceous extinction event and the emergence of large marine predators during the Paleogene.

Preservation
The tooth is naturally preserved within a compact marine limestone matrix that stabilizes the fossil and protects its original anatomical structure. The crown retains its elongated triangular shape and smooth enamel texture, while the root remains visible despite extensive mineralization during fossilization. Variations in coloration between the tooth and surrounding matrix reflect natural geochemical processes within marine sedimentary environments over tens of millions of years. The surrounding limestone preserves part of the ancient seabed in which the tooth became buried shortly after deposition. The specimen’s preservation quality allows detailed examination of important biological characteristics, including crown proportions, root morphology, and feeding adaptations typical of early mackerel sharks. Such preservation contributes significantly to scientific understanding of extinct shark anatomy, marine paleoecology, and the evolutionary history of apex predators that dominated Earth’s oceans during the Eocene Epoch.