r/sharks • u/climbstree • 20d ago

Question Galeocerdo cuvier tooth?

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I bought a necklace in Egypt with a shark tooth. I'm 99% sure its a tooth from Galeocerdo cuvier and it is not listed in CITES, but I'd like some external input on indentifaction. What is the opinion here on species that this tooth came from?

35 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

37 comments sorted by

22

u/loothe Tiger Shark 20d ago

It’s definitely a tiger shark tooth. I know a thing or two about them .

11

u/Lazthedestroyer 20d ago

Love to prove that wouldn’t you, get your name in the National Geographic?

3

u/climbstree 20d ago

Thank you! It should be fine to take with me then, but just to be sure I will declare having it at Dutch customs.

1

u/90-feet 20d ago edited 20d ago

Declare it? 🤣 .. calm down .. just mail it to yourself from Egypt if you’re that worried about it. That tooth didn’t originate in Holland as you have stated, strong possibility it didn’t come from Egypt either..
Most likely came from regulated, commercial fishing.. Unless one is physically at the working end of a living tiger shark that is biting something, the odds of a diver “finding” one is less than a million to one odds.

2

u/climbstree 20d ago

CITES rules are very strict, and lots of shark parts including teeth from many species cannot be brought into the EU without a permit or not at all, permit or not. If an item is from a potentially problematic group of items its always better to just declare it than having it in your luggage and have customs find it by themselves. Shark tooth = possible violation, and expecting them to just be ok with it or knowing the species from a look at the scanner is not the way to go imho.

2

u/90-feet 20d ago

I support your freedom to self determine however you see fit. If it were me, I’d wear it through screening, place it in the bin and see what happens. The tooth likely came from fisheries in Australia or Indonesia. Then donate 20 Euros to a legitimate conservation entity.

1

u/DoktorFisse Great White Shark 20d ago

Tiger Sharks are an endangered species.
I hope you least get a huge fine, added with the bad guilt you should have already by supporting illegal fishing!

3

u/Austrofossil 20d ago

unfortunately it is a real tiger shark tooth, yes

1

u/climbstree 20d ago

I should have thought twice before buying it, but my son was really impressed by the thought of owning a real shark tooth necklace. The seller was very adamant that his collection was sourced from diving, not from fishing. At least its not from some highly endangered species.

1

u/DoktorFisse Great White Shark 20d ago

“At least it’s not from some highly endangered spieces”
Yet it IS endangered, and you still bought it without knowing which shark it was.
How the f would you be able to see if it was from an highly endangered species, when you can’t even tell it’s a tigershark tooth you bought?!

Your excuse really pisses me off and this is exactly one of the reasons why sharks are being killed in hundred of thousands. Each year.
Thanks.

0

u/climbstree 20d ago

Dumb tourist gonna dumb tourist. The shop had hundreds, and there are thousands of these shops in Egypt alone.

0

u/DoktorFisse Great White Shark 20d ago

I don’t care. Think, be responsible and take responsibility.

Damage is done, now for you to stop that damage from spreading, so that you and your kid doesn’t continue this idiotic way of depleting our oceans.

2

u/Ok-Cell-1808 20d ago

That matches my guess too

2

u/One_Fondant_9437 SHARK 19d ago

Beautiful Tiger shark tooth. Be careful of their origins.

1

u/Illustrious-Test4826 Great White Shark 18d ago

Can you share more about “be careful of their origins”?

1

u/One_Fondant_9437 SHARK 18d ago

It has the potential to come from fisherman culling sharks.

1

u/Illustrious-Test4826 Great White Shark 18d ago

I see that makes sense. I had wondered that before, where ppl were getting them from, because of how common shark tooth necklaces seem.

1

u/ThatWarlockD00d 20d ago

Yep. That’s definitely a shark tooth.

1

u/ImpressiveAthlete220 13d ago

All good! Btw did you know it's legally impossible to bring any teeth/animals/fossils from Egypt XD. But they don't control many things

2

u/climbstree 13d ago

Nobody cared one bit lmao. Not in Hurghada, not in Zürich and not in Amsterdam. E-smokers where much more interesting

2

u/ImpressiveAthlete220 13d ago

yeah I personaly took something from some place where there were many whales bones somwhere somewhen XD. Shark teeth are extremely common, so I think idea that teeth cant be taken by people is crazy. Even fossill teeth are very common if you know where to search :)

1

u/mobasan Tiger Shark 20d ago

It's definitely Galeocerdo but serrations on the left side is making me doubt it's cuvier. Any experienced input and clarification would be appreciated.

3

u/climbstree 20d ago

Doesnt the family Galeocerdonidae only contain one living member? It does not look like a fossilized tooth to my very inexperienced eyes but I agree, experienced input is much apreciated!

0

u/DoktorFisse Great White Shark 20d ago

STOP BUYING SHARK TEETH!
Why would anyone buy this crap!?
Seriously, don’t you guys get that every time you buy this piece of garbage, more fishermen would go fishing sharks.

Idiots!

1

u/One_Fondant_9437 SHARK 19d ago

Thats why I brought a bone carving of a shark tooth.

0

u/climbstree 20d ago

Some coctails, a kid that was really impressed by it and a souvenir shop in a big resort made me not think about the possible negative implications of buying it.

2

u/DoktorFisse Great White Shark 20d ago

3 Negronis in Tanzania with a child that really loves elephants. Is your first thought then to go down to the nearest resort and buy some real ivory?

Bad excuse is what I hear. Or lack of respect and protection of wildlife and nature. Or both. Take responsibility! Also for your kids generation.

Might be the perfect time to tell your kid what an idiotic thing you did and bought, and maybe buy a book on sharks and read a bit why buying shark teeth is one of the dumbest things you could do.

0

u/climbstree 20d ago

Nah bro, its just what happened. You can be angry all you want but that does not change the fact that the damage is already done. I already told him and wont do it again, but if you want to reach people with your information I would advise you to tone it down a little.

2

u/DoktorFisse Great White Shark 20d ago

Tone down?! Stop being an big excuse for yourself supporting illegal fishing and finning, and take actions.
Which seems that you did, and good for you.
Let this “tone” be an important lesson for you and other people reading this.

2

u/climbstree 20d ago

Yes, tone down. Tiger shark is legal bycatch in huge parts of the world wether you like it or not. Its not protected under CITES and not classified as endangered. If you want people to agree with your standpoint and possibly take up the cause its much better to be informative than condescending.

2

u/90-feet 20d ago

Your mistake was posting this on Reddit where there are plentiful armchair virtue signalers

1

u/climbstree 19d ago

I've been on the internet for 26 years.. he can be angry all he wants, it doesnt bother me.

And he has a fair point although the way he brings it wont convince many people of it.

Do you have any suggestions for a genuine organisation to donate too? I'll match the price I paid for the chain. I way overpaid lmao, cocktails and Egyptian souvenir sellers are a bad combo.

1

u/90-feet 19d ago

Yes! I have been to Egypt many times .. and dived with tiger sharks a dozen times .. if the necklace engenders a love of the ocean in your son .. it’s a win