Sharks Teeth

From the Marko Shark to the silky Shark, the shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay is filled with all different kinds of sharks teeth. Fossil records indicate that some of the first sharks lived some 300 million years ago. It is estimated that modern sharks had evolved between 70 million to 100 million years ago. Sharks are known for their speed and maneuverability in the water. Most species can swim at speeds of 20 to 30 (32 to 48 kilometers) miles per hour, and the speed of the Marko has been recorded at more than 60 (97 kilometers) miles per hour. Sharks are among the oldest living water creatures, and they have remained essentially the same since the modern sharks first appeared.

Sharkís teeth are among the hardest of all organic materials, highly resistant to destruction by weather or wave action. Therefore you can find many washed up by waves on the shoreline of the Bay. (Look for something black and triangular). They vary in size, from barely visible to teeth 5 inches long - teeth of the great white shark. Sharks have an unlimited supply of teeth, which are formed in layered rows. These teeth are not set firmly in the jaws, but are positioned in the gums. No cavities, permanently missing teeth, or tooth-aches for a shark! If a tooth is lost it is quickly replaced by another. Any shark may have a numerous amount of tooth loss and growth by the time is reaches adulthood. Don't be alarmed by the numerous teeth you find- remember these are about twenty million years old!

Paleontologist discovered that many of the whale bones had scratches and scars by teeth of sharks. It would appear that Miocene sharks were attracted to the Chesapeake bay by the young whales that made easy prey.

The Marko Shark's teeth curve quite a bit and are very large.

The Sand Shark teeth can easily be distinguished from the other sharks due to the broad tip tri-pod like base.

The silky shark teeth are curved similar to the sand shark but have a straighter base.