Description

Otodus obliquus
Shark
Late Paleocene
Ouled abdoun basin, phosphate deposits, Morocco

0.8 Inch tooth.

Shark, Otodontidae

Deformed (or pathologic) shark teeth are found in the fossil record just as they are today.  They can be caused by genetic mutation. disease, or injury.  With this tooth it appears the crown may have been slightly damaged during development causing it to be bent irregularly.

Otodus was a large shark of the Paleocene and Early Eocene.  It was the direct ancestor of Carcharocles though it has been proposed that Otodus should be the genus for that descendant as well.