Hemipristis serra was a medium-sized shark with one of the most striking sets of teeth in the fossil record. Its common name, the snaggletooth shark, comes from the hooked, jagged look of its upper teeth. Every tooth in this collection is a one-of-a-kind specimen, measured and photographed individually, so the tooth you see in the listing is the tooth that arrives at your door.
Hemipristis serra, an extinct relative of the living snaggletooth shark, Hemipristis elongata, which still swims in the Indo-Pacific today.
During the Miocene and Pliocene epochs, sharing warm coastal seas with Megalodon.
The broad, curved upper teeth carry coarse serrations that stop just short of a smooth tip. The lower teeth are narrow, hooked, and look so different they are often mistaken for another species.
Most upper teeth measure around 1 to 1.5 inches. Teeth over 2 inches are exceptionally rare and sit at the very top of the collecting market.
Indonesian Hemipristis teeth are known for their large size, crisp serrations, and bright, high-contrast colors, producing some of the most spectacular examples on the market.
Bone Valley, the Peace River, and other Florida deposits produce Hemipristis teeth in a range of colors, including the blues and grays Bone Valley is known for.
River and offshore sites in South Carolina and North Carolina yield dark, well-preserved teeth, often found alongside megalodon.
From time to time we also offer Hemipristis teeth from other classic shark tooth sites. These pieces come and go quickly, so check back often.
Size matters more with Hemipristis than with most fossil sharks, because large upper teeth are genuinely hard to find. A tooth that crosses the 2-inch mark can sell for many times the price of an average example. Beyond size, collectors look for sharp, complete serrations, an intact tip, a solid root, strong curvature, and attractive color.
Hemipristis tips and root ends are fragile and often damaged, so repairs and restoration are common, especially on larger and more colorful teeth. With more than 13 years of fossil identification experience behind every listing, we state plainly whether a tooth is fully natural, repaired, or restored. If you'd like to check a tooth yourself, our guide on how to spot repaired or restored shark teeth walks through what to look for. Every tooth is backed by our authenticity guarantee and a 30-day return policy.
They hunted alongside a giant. Hemipristis shared the Miocene and Pliocene seas with Megalodon, and their teeth are often found side by side. Explore our Megalodon Teeth collection to pair them in your display.
