Megalodon tooth fossil discovered by boy in New Jersey

A rare megalodon tooth has been discovered by a father and son during a visit to the New Jersey coast. Michael Bowers and his 11-year-old son, Bo, found the fossilized specimen lodged near a jetty in Sea Isle City.

The tooth, which is approximately ten centimeters long, was retrieved by Bo after his father was unable to reach it through a narrow opening between rocks. The discovery was made during low tide, which the family noted was crucial to spotting the object.

Experts from the Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center and the New Jersey State Museum have authenticated the find, confirming it belongs to a megalodon, a prehistoric shark species that went extinct approximately 3.6 million years ago. According to museum officials, fewer than five megalodon teeth have been found in the state of New Jersey previously.