3.18" Serrated Sokolovi (Auriculatus) Shark Tooth - Dakhla, Morocco

This shark was an ancestor to the Megalodon which lived some 20 million years later. In the past, these teeth have typically been labeled as Carcharocles auriculatus, but based on the newest research and classifications Otodus sokolovi would be the correct name. This shark represents a transitional species between Otodus (Carcharocles) auriculatus and Otodus (Carcharocles) angustidens.

A paper the fauna from this location including classifications of the shark teeth can be found below.

A Middle-Late Eocene vertebrate fauna (marine fish and mammals) from southwestern Morocco; preliminary report: Age and palaeobiogeographical implications