Smile!
- When they are about 10 cm (4 in) in length… the mouth of the (sand tiger shark) embyro becomes functional and teeth are formed [inside the mother shark].
- Three rows of long needle-like front teeth protrude from their open mouth. The back teeth are molar-like. (Aquarium of the Pacific)
- Shark teeth are covered in fluoride, making them cavity-resistant. One 2012 study published in the Journal of Structural Biology found that sharks’ enamel is made up of a chemical called fluoroapatite, which is resistant to acid produced by bacteria. (livescience)
You can get close to the shark’s mouth on the Shark Lagoon Live Cam.
Photos from explore.org fans, Tipper-WA and CeS_WA