Part of Hall of Vertebrate Origins.
Denis Finnin/© AMNH
Evolution of sharks can be traced back over 400 million years. The most famous extinct shark is Carcharodon megalodon. This animal, which lived in the seas 10 million years ago, easily dwarfed modern white sharks.
Fossilized Carcharodon teeth are found all around the world, but some of the best preserved are from North Carolina, like those exhibited at the Museum.