Otodus

Name Meaning:  Ear Tooth

Geologic Era: Paleocene-Eocene

Location Discovered: North Africa

Size:   Up to 12 meters long

Estimated Range: Worldwide

Extinction Date:  Late Eocene

Otodus was a type of extinct mackerel shark, of which modern Great White sharks are a part.  It grew to be considerably larger than modern predatory sharks, and was likely the apex marine predator of its day.  Our tooth is still partially in matrix, but nicely shows the curved edge that this species is known for.  We are also fortunate to have a fossilized Otodus vertebra.

Otodus sharks probably behaved much like modern Great Whites, and would have fed on animals such as large fish, other sharks, and primitive whales.  Many fossilized whale bones are found with gashes and punctures that line up with shark teeth.  Many of these marks are on the undersides of the bone, indicating that the shark probably struck from beneath.  This behavior pattern is also seen in modern sharks, especially Great Whites. 

Image Credits:
Life Reconstruction:  http://spinops.blogspot.com/2012/06/otodus-obliquus.html