Otodus obliquus

Early Eocene
phosphate mine, Khouribga, Morocco

Lamniform shark.

37mm highly deformed shark tooth. Part of root repaired, but distorted enamel is all genuine.

Otodus is a shark genus that appeared a few million years after the K/T extinction and became the apex marine predator of the Paleocene and Early Eocene.  It is the ancestor of Carcharocles megalodon.

Deformed (or pathologic) shark teeth are found in the fossil record just as they are today.  Deformities can be caused by genetic mutation. disease, or injury.  With this tooth it appears there was an irregular genetic expression that resulted in more than one main cusp developing instead of just one.