SOLOMONS, Md.– In a new exhibit opening soon, the Calvert Marine Museum (CMM) will display a never-before-seen set of teeth from the extinct megatooth shark megalodon! The 53 teeth from one individual were collected over a period of 6 years from one location along Calvert Cliffs. When this shark died, it would have been close to 50 feet long.
Background
The extinct megatooth shark, megalodon (aka Otodus megalodon), (Figure 1), continues to be a source of endless popular and scientific fascination. This insatiable interest certainly comes from the large size of its serrated teeth (Figures 2 & 3) and macro-predatory habits. Megalodon was one of the largest predators ever, thought to have attained a body length of about 65 feet. Doubtless, megalodon dominated the marine ecosystem for nearly 20 million years prior to its extinction about 3.6 million years ago. Remarkably though, what is mostly known about megalodon has come from studying its many fossilized teeth and few vertebrae.
Figure 2. A large front tooth from the associated set of megalodon teeth on display at the Calvert Marine Museum, Solomons, Maryland. Notice the fine serrations and the darkly colored chevron-shaped bourlette, both characteristic of the teeth of this macro predator. Millions of years of natural selection had produced a tooth superbly well adapted at dismembering prey.
Figure 3. A large front tooth from the associated set of megalodon teeth on display at the Calvert Marine Museum, Solomons, Maryland. This is the outer surface of the same tooth shown in Fig. 2. The marine mammal prey of megalodon would have seen this side of the tooth first before they were cut to pieces. 
Many tens of thousands of megalodon teeth have been found around the world, the vast majority having been preserved and found in isolation. However, but exceedingly rare, an individual megalodon died and many of its teeth were preserved together in association. Worldwide, there are fewer than a dozen associated partial dentitions of megalodon known. Today, we announce a newly discovered associated set of megalodon teeth found along Calvert Cliffs, Maryland, USA. This set includes 53 teeth from a wide range of tooth positions in the giant shark’s mouth, from large front teeth 5 ½ inches long (Figures 2 & 3) to remarkably small back teeth only just over ½ inch long (Figure 4). This is the first associated set of teeth of megalodon to ever have been found along the fossil-famous Calvert Cliffs.
Figure 4. A tiny back tooth from the associated set of megalodon teeth on display at the Calvert Marine Museum, Solomons, Maryland. The outer surface of the tooth is shown here.
The Best Day…
On the eventful Best Day, CMM Paleontology Collections Manager John Nance was walking the beach when he came upon a tiny fawn stranded on the beach. John called the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for advice since the fawn was so young. DNR decided to send staff, which ended very happily in the reunification of the fawn with its mother, who was still at the top of the cliff. John continued searching the beach for fossils all while keeping an eye on the fawn until DNR arrived. The extra time and slow pace led John to discover more megalodon teeth on that day than on any other. (On every other day, the teeth were usually found 1 or 2 at a time.) He moved the piece of driftwood near his foot (Figure 5) and found another tooth. At that point John stopped and called Dr. Victor Perez (at that time, the Assistant Curator of Paleontology at the museum) and Dr. Stephen Godfrey, CMM Curator of Paleontology, to quickly come join him on the beach. While waiting for DNR and Victor and Stephen to arrive, John found several more teeth (Figure 6). When Victor arrived, he jumped right in and found even more. That crazy day ended with Victor finding the largest tooth measuring 5½ inches long (Figure 7). After that day, we began comparing the teeth with other isolated megalodon teeth that had been collected from the same area years earlier and determined that many of them were also part of the associated dentition.
Who Found the Teeth?
The megalodon teeth were found by both professional and avocational paleontologists including John R. Nance (30, CMM Paleontology Collections Manager), Dr. Victor J. Perez (11, at that time, CMM Assistant Curator of Paleontology), Dr. Robert “Bob” Hazen and Margee Hazen (4), Stephen Groff (3, CMM Research Associate), Brian Bartron (1, donated by Cindy Eckard), William “Bill” Counterman (1, former CMM Assistant Curator of Paleontology), Marcus Jones (1, CMM Paleontology Intern and Volunteer), Daryl Serafin (1, member CMM Fossil Club), and Steven Victor (1). Matt Blomgren and Cindy Eckerd, who found 3 and 2 megalodon teeth respectively, allowed the museum to cast their finds. These casts will be included in the exhibit. Many other individuals helped scour that beach over several years.
Several other collectors have found teeth from this shark, and those remain in private collections. We know of 27 teeth in private collections. More are likely to be in other collections. During the winter of 2015-2016, we heard a rumor of someone who found a bucket of megalodon teeth from this same location, and probably from the same shark. He has become affectionately known as “Bucket Guy”. If you are, or know “Bucket Guy”, we’d greatly appreciate you contacting our Paleontology Department (410-326-2042).
We’d also like to hear from anyone who thinks they may have found a tooth from this set. We’d like to get a total count of all teeth from this associated megalodon dentition. Don’t worry, we would not and cannot confiscate your meg teeth!
How We Know They All Came from The Same Individual
The teeth were not found in life-like articulation in the cliffs. Rather, they were collected from the beach after they naturally eroded from the cliffs (Figure 5). The following evidence strongly suggests that the teeth are from one individual. 1) They were found in the same small area. 2) They display uniformity in color and preservation. 3) The teeth are the appropriate size and shape for having come from different positions within the mouth of one individual. 4) Most of the teeth preserve an unusual spur on the root of the tooth immediately below the crown, suggesting that they all came from the same giant shark. 5) Some of the teeth are what are known as file teeth (Figure 9). They are teeth that had not yet fully formed, they preserve varying degrees of tooth-formation mineralization. For some of these teeth, only a thin husk of the enamel-like outer covering of the tooth is preserved. File teeth are not shed, rather they are only found when a shark died and some of those incompletely formed teeth fossilized.
Financial support for this exhibit came from a seed grant from The Southern Maryland National Heritage Area, which also gratefully recognizes the contribution of the tourism departments of Calvert County, Charles County, and Visit St. Mary’s that help to make this opportunity possible, Christine and Jim Burris, the Citizens of Calvert County, and the County Commissioners of Calvert County, Maryland.
An Important Cautionary Note…
The teeth were not found at Calvert Cliffs State Park. Trespassing through private communities to get to the cliffs is also not permitted. Digging in the cliffs is dangerous and is prohibited on all state and federal lands. On private land, permission must be obtained from the owner(s) before digging. If you see a skull, bone, or unusual fossil in the cliffs, please report it to the Calvert Marine Museum (410-326-2042). The museum appreciates getting this information and, if justified by the importance of the find, will make every effort to obtain the necessary permission and have trained personnel collect the specimen, giving full credit to the finder and property owner.
Explore how the prehistoric past, natural environments, and maritime heritage come to life and tell a unique story of the Chesapeake Bay. The Calvert Marine Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $11.00 for adults; $9.00 for seniors, military, and veterans with valid I.D, AAA and AARP members; $6.00 for children ages 5 – 12; children under 5 and museum members are admitted free. Proud participant in Museums for All. For more information about the museum, upcoming events, or membership, visit the website at www.calvertmarinemuseum.com or call 410-326-2042. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
