One of the vertebrate fossils that is frequently collected is a shark tooth. They can be found on riverbeds, beaches, mountaintops, prairies, and deserts. Shark teeth have been observed to fossilize in a variety of sediments, such as marl, shale, sandstone, and limestone.

The phosphate deposits of Morocco and the United States are where shark teeth are most frequently discovered (South Carolina and Florida). The majority of these teeth come from the extinct Carcharocles megalodon species, which existed between about 2.6 million years ago and the end of the Pliocene.

The shark tooth is a representation of the ideal union of land and sea that has been exposed as a symbol of male strength, virility, and power. It is also a potent good luck symbol in some cultures.

Shark teeth were extracted and strung on necklaces by the ancient Hawaiians. They were also used by them as tools, weapons, and decorations. The teeth were frequently believed to possess Mana or spiritual power.