Fossil Shark Teeth of Morocco: Otodus, Cretolamna and More

October 3, 2026

In short: Morocco’s phosphate deposits around Khouribga produce huge numbers of fossil shark teeth, from the latest Cretaceous through the Paleocene and Eocene. The most famous is Otodus obliquus, an early member of the lineage that led to the megalodon.

Why so many shark teeth?

Sharks continuously shed and replace their teeth, so a single shark could lose thousands in its lifetime. Their cartilage skeletons rarely fossilize, but their hard teeth do. In the Moroccan phosphates, open-pit mining exposes enormous volumes of fossil-rich rock, and teeth are collected from the mined material.

Main Moroccan species

Shark	Age	How to recognize it
Otodus obliquus	Paleocene to early Eocene	Large triangular crown with side cusps; teeth can exceed 10 cm
Cretolamna	Late Cretaceous to Paleocene	Smooth triangular crown with small side cusps
Squalicorax (crow shark)	Late Cretaceous	Broad, curved crown with serrated edges
Scapanorhynchus	Late Cretaceous	Long, slender, needle-like crown
Striatolamia	Paleogene	Slender crown with fine vertical striations
Ginglymostoma (nurse shark)	Varies	Small teeth with a central cusp and several side cusps

Otodus obliquus: megalodon’s ancestor

Otodus obliquus was a large predatory shark of the Paleocene and early Eocene, found worldwide. Its teeth are some of the most popular fossils from Morocco. Scientists place it in the same lineage as Otodus megalodon, the giant shark that lived millions of years later.

Age matters

The Moroccan phosphate series spans the latest Cretaceous to the Eocene. Cretaceous species such as Squalicorax lived alongside mosasaurs, while Otodus obliquus lived after the extinction of the dinosaurs and mosasaurs.

Bulk lots

Because shark teeth are abundant, they are ideal for bulk lots for schools, museum shops and gift sellers. Larger, complete teeth with sharp edges and intact roots are more valuable.