While scuba diving off Florida’s Gulf Coast near Venice, Kristina Scott made an extraordinary discovery — a six-inch fossilized tooth from a megalodon, one of the largest and most fearsome sharks to ever roam the oceans.
Megalodons, which went extinct around 3.5 million years ago, could grow up to 60 feet long and had a terrifying set of 276 razor-sharp teeth. Though their massive bodies have long since vanished, their fossilized teeth remain and are often found in coastal waters around the world, except Antarctica.
Finding such a large specimen is exceptionally rare. Most megalodon teeth recovered by divers are much smaller, making Scott’s find a significant one for fossil enthusiasts and marine historians alike.
Today, the megalodon’s closest living relative is the shortfin mako shark, a species still common in Florida’s waters — though far smaller and less intimidating than its ancient ancestor.
Scott’s exciting discovery highlights Florida’s reputation as a hotspot for prehistoric shark tooth hunting, particularly in the waters off Venice, often dubbed the “Shark Tooth Capital of the World.”
