Megalodon fossil shark tooth; collected from eastern seaboard of North America. Photo by James St. John/Flickr (use permitted with attribution).
Official State Fossil of North Carolina
North Carolina designated the fossilized teeth of the megalodon shark as the official state fossil in 2013. All State Fossils
This massive prehistoric shark lived over 1.5 million years ago and had serrated, heart-shaped teeth that grew to over seven inches in length! Georgia also recognizes fossilized shark teeth as a state symbol - teeth from any of the many types of sharks that lived in prehistoric Georgia and North Carolina (the oldest teeth date back about 375 million years).
Excerpt from House Bill 830
Whereas, the megalodon shark is an extinct shark species that lived over 1.5 million years ago; and
Whereas, the megalodon shark may have reached over 40 feet in length and weighed up to 100 tons; and
Whereas, the megalodon shark had serrated, heart-shaped teeth that may have grown to over seven inches in length; and
Whereas, fossilized teeth of the megalodon shark have been found in North Carolina and throughout the world;
Now, therefore, the General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: The fossilized teeth of the megalodon shark is adopted as the official fossil of the State of North Carolina.
