RICS
Carcharocles auriculatus (Blainville)

Age - Eocene  Commonality - Uncommon

The Carcharocles group is best known for the species C. megalodon, better known as megs. While there is some debate as to the actual number of species in this genus, we can limit the Carcharocles teeth found in Monmouth County, NJ to one of two species, C. auriculatus (Rics) or C. chubutensis (Chubs).

    Carcharocles auriculatus crowns have a triangle shape, with large coarsely serrated cusplets. The root has a wide “U” shape and the root lobes are rounded. The serrations on the crown can be variable, for the most part they are course and irregular, but I have teeth where the serrations are faint and do not extend the entire length of the crown. Complete teeth are uncommon as the roots in our area tend to fossilize poorly. Average length is between 1 – 1 ½ inches with maximum sizes up to 4 inches.
 

Lateral C. auriculatus
Scale 1 inch
Monmouth County, NJ
 

The serrations can be variable, with most teeth having coarse
irregular serrations.
 

The cusplets of  Carcharocles auriculatus are large with coarse
serrations
 

Anterior C. auriculatus, the serrations on this tooth are coarse and
extend almost completely to the tip of the crown.
 

My largest ric, at just under 2 inches.
Note the poor fossilization of the root.
 

You will find more rick blades than complete teeth.
You can normally identify a rick blade by the coarse serrations
and the slight hook.
The tooth on the upper right is one of the few teeth I've found
with a decent root, as luck would have, the crown is broken.
 

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