The Tooth of a Carcharodontosaurus

Northwest Africa looked very different 100 million years ago. Dotted with rivers and lakes, it was lush and humid, supporting an abundance of life from crocodylomorphs to fish and turtles to small amphibians to one of the absolute largest carnivores to ever walk the face of the Earth, Carcharodontosaurus. Growing to lengths of more than 40 feet (12 meters) and weighing approximately 7 tons, this apex predator stalked sauropods and iguanodontids in the verdant marshes and open plains of what is now fossil-rich sandstone.

The name Carcharodontosaurus translates to “sharp teeth lizard”, an appropriate moniker for a T. rex-sized dinosaur boasting over 60 closely packed teeth, each with knife-like serrations running along their sides. Precious few of these teeth exhibit the remarkable preservation seen here, still sharp enough to maybe—just maybe—draw blood.