A shark-toothed giant from the Sahara
Carcharodontosaurus was named in 1931 by the German paleontologist Ernst Stromer for the resemblance of its teeth to those of the great white shark, Carcharodon. The species was first based on two teeth from Algeria, now lost, and Stromer’s Egyptian fossils were destroyed in 1944 during the Second World War[1]. Morocco supplied the replacement. In the mid-1990s a team led by Paul Sereno collected a large partial skull from the Kem Kem, described in 1996[2]. That skull, SGM-Din 1, from the upper unit of the Kem Kem beds, was later designated the neotype, the reference specimen for Carcharodontosaurus saharicus[1].
The genus belongs to Carcharodontosauridae, a family of large allosauroid predators that also includes Giganotosaurus from Argentina. Body length estimates commonly fall around 12 meters, placing it among the largest theropods known.
How to recognize Carcharodontosaurus teeth
- Blade shape. Crowns are strongly flattened side to side and recurved, built for slicing.
- Serrations on both edges. Fine denticles run along the front and back cutting edges.
- Enamel wrinkles. The key feature: curved wrinkles in the enamel near the front and back edges, described in the literature as pronounced arcuate marginal enamel wrinkles[1].
- Size. Large crowns can exceed 6 cm, but most teeth in the trade are smaller and many are broken.
Similar serrated teeth also come from abelisaurids and other theropods in the same beds. A 2024 study found that Kem Kem abelisaurid and carcharodontosaurid teeth could be told apart reliably only with machine-learning and phylogenetic analyses[3]. For small or worn teeth, an honest label may read “Carcharodontosauridae” or “theropod” rather than a genus name. Compare with our abelisaurid teeth.
One species or more?
A second species, Carcharodontosaurus iguidensis, was named from Niger in 2007[1], and some authors now restrict it to its type upper-jaw bone. Another carcharodontosaurid, Sauroniops pachytholus, is known from a single Kem Kem skull bone[4]. For Moroccan teeth, C. saharicus remains the standard attribution.
Sharing rivers with Spinosaurus
The Kem Kem is famous for having several giant predators in one fauna: Carcharodontosaurus, spinosaurids and large abelisaurids. One explanation is ecological: spinosaurids fed largely on fish, while Carcharodontosaurus, with its slicing teeth, was better suited to large land animals. Another is geological. Fossils in the Kem Kem are concentrated in river channels over a long span of time, and some authors suggest that the apparent coexistence of these predators may partly reflect poor stratigraphic resolution, with remains from different times mixed together[4]. Both factors may play a role.
Teeth from the lower and upper parts of the group can differ in color, from pale tan to dark chocolate, because of differences in the sediments that buried them. Color says nothing about authenticity on its own, but it should be consistent across one tooth.
| Scientific name | Carcharodontosaurus saharicus (Carcharodontosauridae) |
|---|---|
| Geological age | Cenomanian, early Late Cretaceous (about 99–94 million years ago) |
| Formation | Kem Kem Group (Gara Sbaa and Douira formations) |
| Locality in Morocco | Kem Kem escarpment, Errachidia Province, southeastern Morocco (Taouz–Begaa area) |
| Typical size | Most teeth 2–6 cm; large complete crowns are scarce |
| Tooth features | Flattened serrated blade with marginal enamel wrinkles |
Buying Carcharodontosaurus teeth
Complete Carcharodontosaurus teeth with sharp tips and intact serrations are much scarcer than Spinosaurus teeth, and prices reflect it. Before buying, check:
- serrations visible along both edges, not worn or polished away;
- the enamel wrinkles near the edges, which support the identification;
- consistent enamel color and texture across any glued break;
- a natural crown base or root, with no filler hidden under matrix;
- clear disclosure of gap fill, rebuilt serrations or restored tips.
Every listing states locality, age, size, weight and whether the tooth is natural, repaired or restored.
Carcharodontosaurus teeth wholesale
For rock shops and museum stores, Carcharodontosaurus teeth sit at the premium end of a Kem Kem display, next to the more common Spinosaurus teeth. Approved buyers with a wholesale account receive tiered discounts by quantity. To source specific sizes or grades, request a quote or see wholesale lots. Browse all Moroccan dinosaur fossils.
References
- Brusatte, S.L. & Sereno, P.C. (2007). A new species of Carcharodontosaurus (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Cenomanian of Niger and a revision of the genus. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 27(4): 902–916. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2007)27[902:ANSOCD]2.0.CO;2
- Sereno, P.C., Dutheil, D.B., Iarochene, M., et al. (1996). Predatory dinosaurs from the Sahara and Late Cretaceous faunal differentiation. Science 272(5264): 986–991. doi:10.1126/science.272.5264.986
- Hendrickx, C., Trapman, T.H., Wills, S., Holwerda, F.M., Stein, K.H.W., Rauhut, O.W.M., Melzer, R.R., Van Woensel, J. & Reumer, J.W.F. (2024). A combined approach to identify isolated theropod teeth from the Cenomanian Kem Kem Group of Morocco: cladistic, discriminant, and machine learning analyses. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 43(4): e2311791. doi:10.1080/02724634.2024.2311791
- Chiarenza, A.A. & Cau, A. (2016). A large abelisaurid (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from Morocco and comments on the Cenomanian theropods from North Africa. PeerJ 4: e1754. doi:10.7717/peerj.1754
Frequently asked questions
How do I know a tooth is Carcharodontosaurus and not another theropod?
Look for a flattened, recurved blade with serrations on both edges and curved enamel wrinkles near the cutting edges, a feature typical of Carcharodontosaurus. Abelisaurid teeth from the same beds are also serrated but usually shorter. Small or heavily worn teeth can be hard to separate, so a careful dealer labels uncertain teeth at family level.
Why are Carcharodontosaurus teeth more expensive than Spinosaurus teeth?
They are found far less often in the Kem Kem, and their thin blades break easily, so complete teeth with sharp tips and intact serrations are scarce. Spinosaurus teeth are conical and robust, and spinosaurines shed teeth quickly, so many more survive. Size, completeness and the amount of restoration drive the price of both.
How big was Carcharodontosaurus?
Carcharodontosaurus saharicus is usually estimated at around 12 meters long, comparable to Tyrannosaurus rex and Giganotosaurus. Its skull, known from the Moroccan neotype found in the Kem Kem, was long and narrow. Estimates vary because no complete skeleton is known, and the original Egyptian fossils were destroyed in 1944.