While Spinosaurus fished in the rivers of Cretaceous North Africa, another giant ruled the land beside them. Carcharodontosaurus was one of the largest meat-eating dinosaurs that ever lived, and its huge, serrated teeth are among the most impressive dinosaur fossils a collector can own. Carcharodontosaurus teeth from Morocco bring this apex predator to life.
This guide covers the history of Carcharodontosaurus, what makes its teeth distinctive and what to look for when buying one.
The shark-toothed lizard
The name Carcharodontosaurus means “shark-toothed lizard”. It refers to the resemblance between its teeth and those of the great white shark, Carcharodon. Both have flattened, triangular, serrated teeth designed for slicing flesh.
The first teeth were described from Algeria in the 1920s. German paleontologist Ernst Stromer gave the animal its current name in 1931, based on fossils from Egypt. Like his Spinosaurus material, those fossils were destroyed during the bombing of Munich in 1944.
In 1996, scientists described a much more complete skull from Morocco’s Kem Kem beds. It showed a predator with a skull roughly as long as a tall person, revealing just how enormous Carcharodontosaurus was.
How big was Carcharodontosaurus?
Carcharodontosaurus is estimated to have reached around 12 metres or more in length, putting it in the same size range as Tyrannosaurus rex. It belonged to a group of giant predators called carcharodontosaurids, which also includes Giganotosaurus from South America and Acrocanthosaurus from North America.
It lived roughly 100 to 95 million years ago, sharing the Kem Kem river system with Spinosaurus, Deltadromeus and other predators.
What makes Carcharodontosaurus teeth distinctive
Carcharodontosaurus teeth are built for slicing, and they show several features that help collectors identify them.
Blade-like shape. The teeth are flattened from side to side and curve backward, like a knife blade.
Serrations on both edges. Crisp, fine serrations run along the front and back edges. They helped the teeth cut through flesh with each bite.
Enamel wrinkles. This is the key identifying feature. Carcharodontosaurus teeth show distinctive curved wrinkles in the enamel near the serrated edges. These wrinkles are rarely as well developed in other theropod teeth from the region.
Large size. Big teeth are impressive, and large, complete crowns are among the most prized Moroccan dinosaur fossils.
How Carcharodontosaurus hunted
Blade-like, serrated teeth suggest a predator that delivered slicing bites to large prey. Rather than crushing bone like T. rex, Carcharodontosaurus likely inflicted deep, bleeding wounds and waited for its prey to weaken.
Its likely targets included large plant-eating dinosaurs such as sauropods. Spinosaurus and Carcharodontosaurus probably avoided direct competition by specialising in different prey: fish in the water for one, large land animals for the other.
Why collectors value Carcharodontosaurus teeth
Carcharodontosaurus teeth combine size, drama and scientific interest. A large tooth is an unmistakable display piece, and the enamel wrinkles make a fascinating detail under a magnifier.
They also complete the story of the Kem Kem. Displaying a blade-like Carcharodontosaurus tooth beside a cone-shaped Spinosaurus tooth shows how two giant predators shared the same ecosystem by hunting in completely different ways.
What to look for when buying
Correct identification. Check for the blade-like shape, serrations on both edges and enamel wrinkles. Generic theropod teeth from Morocco are sometimes mislabelled as Carcharodontosaurus.
Serrations. Look for crisp, intact serrations along as much of the edges as possible.
Tip and base. Original tips are desirable. Rebuilt tips and filled bases are common and should be disclosed.
Restoration. Many large teeth have repaired cracks. A modest, disclosed repair is normal. Heavy restoration lowers value.
Size and completeness. Larger, more complete crowns are rarer and more desirable.
Buying from a specialist who describes each tooth’s size and condition is the best protection. Buried Treasure Fossils regularly offers Carcharodontosaurus teeth, and exceptional pieces sometimes appear in its Fossil of the Month listings.
Frequently asked questions
1. What does Carcharodontosaurus mean?
It means “shark-toothed lizard”, because its teeth resemble those of the great white shark.
2. How do you identify a Carcharodontosaurus tooth?
Look for a large, blade-like, backward-curving tooth with serrations on both edges and distinctive curved wrinkles in the enamel near the edges.
3. Where do Carcharodontosaurus teeth come from?
Most come from the Kem Kem beds of southeastern Morocco, which are about 100 to 95 million years old.
4. Was Carcharodontosaurus bigger than T. rex?
They were similar in size. Both reached around 12 metres in length, and estimates for each continue to be refined.
Own a tooth from Africa’s giant predator
A Carcharodontosaurus tooth is a true trophy fossil: large, serrated and full of story. With careful buying, it can become the centrepiece of a Moroccan dinosaur collection. Explore authentic Carcharodontosaurus teeth at Buried Treasure Fossils.