9-year-old girl discovers ‘once in a lifetime’ megalodon tooth

An aspiring 9-year-old paleontologist discovered a once-in-a-lifetime find on Christmas morning: a giant five-inch tooth from a prehistoric megalodon.For more on this story, watch the video above. Molly Sampson, Prince Frederick’s fourth grader, told CNN that her father, who loved fossils, inspired her to spend years searching for shark teeth on the Maryland coast. . Molly’s mother, Alicia Sampson, added that her daughter has long loved exploring the outdoors. The state park is known as a hotspot for fossil discoveries, added Alicia Sampson. Fossils from the Chesapeake Bay. She donned her new gear and at 9:30 a.m. began searching for the remains of an ancient predator. “I saw something big. It looked like a shark’s tooth.” “We were in knee-deep water.” She was “surprised” when she noticed the size of her teeth. “I was so excited and surprised,” Godfrey told CNN, “there are usually only five or six megalodon teeth the size of the ones Molly finds at Calvert Cliffs each year.” “This is like a once-in-a-lifetime find.”Amateur fossil hunters typically find about 100 megalodon teeth a year at Calvert Cliffs, he added. The largest megalodon tooth ever discovered was just over 7 inches. The tooth size suggests that this particular megalodon was between 45 and 50 feet long. Godfrey explained that millions of years ago, whales lived in Calvert He Cliff waters. and dolphins that would have served as abundant prey for megalodon to eat. Sharks replace their teeth during their lifetime, and because teeth are made of tough enamel, they are “the most abundant vertebrate fossil.” Godfrey and Alicia Sampson said they hope Mollie’s discovery will help inspire other children, especially girls, to pursue scientific interests. sent Molly a letter sharing their excitement about her discovery. She launched an Instagram page to share her daughters’ outdoor adventures. — and hopes to one day become a paleontologist.

A nine-year-old ambitious paleontologist has been discovered The Discovery of a Lifetime on Christmas Morning: A giant five-inch tooth of a prehistoric megalodon.

For more on this story, watch the video above.

Molly SampsonPrince Frederick, Maryland, a senior, made an amazing discovery at Calvert Beach.

Molly told CNN that her dad, who loves fossils, inspired her to spend years looking for shark teeth on Maryland beaches.

“They’re really old, so it’s just cool,” she said.

Molly’s mother Alicia Sampson added that her daughter has long loved exploring the outdoors.

Maryland’s Calvert Cliffs State Park is known as a fossil discovery hotspot, added Alicia Sampson.

For Christmas, Molly asked her parents for cold water waders to search for shark teeth and other fossils in the Chesapeake Bay. She donned her new gear and set out at 9:30 am to search for the remains of an ancient predator.

“I saw something big. It looked like a shark’s tooth,” she said. “We were knee-deep in water.”

She explained that she tried to grab the tooth with a sieving tool, but it was too big. “I was so excited and surprised.”

Alicia Sampson via CNN

Nine-year-old Molly Sampson, an avid paleontologist, discovered a megalodon tooth at Calvert Cliffs State Park in Maryland on Christmas.

The Sampson’s made their exciting discovery Calvert Maritime Museumwhere paleontology curator Stephen Godfrey confirmed their suspicions: it was indeed a megalodon tooth, A giant shark that lived over 23 million years ago.

Godfrey told CNN that there are usually only five or six megalodon teeth that are comparable in size to Morey’s finds at Calvert Cliffs each year.

“There are people in their lifetime who can’t find teeth the size Molly found.

“This is like a once-in-a-lifetime discovery.”

Amateur fossil hunters typically find about 100 megalodon teeth a year at Calvert Cliffs, he added. But most of them are much smaller than Molly’s giant teeth.

The tooth size indicates that this particular megalodon was between 45 and 50 feet long.

Godfrey explains that millions of years ago, the waters off Calvert Cliffs were inhabited by whales and dolphins, providing abundant prey for megalodon in search of food. Sharks replace their teeth during their lifetime, and because teeth are made of tough enamel, they are “the most abundant vertebrate fossil.”

Megalodon has a special fascination with humans because it has been the ‘top predator of the Earth’ for millions of years.

Alicia Sampson via CNN

Close-up of Megalodon tooth found by Molly

Godfrey and Alicia Sampson hope Molly’s discovery will inspire other children, especially girls, to pursue scientific interests.

“This inspires people of all ages, including children, to pursue their natural tendencies, art and music in nature.There are so many possibilities for us today.

Alicia Sampson said children around the world have sent Molly letters sharing their excitement over her discovery. An Instagram page for sharing my daughters’ outdoor adventures.

“We really want to reach out to other kids and get them excited to be outside.

Molly wants to display a giant tooth in a shadow box in her room, and hopes to one day become a paleontologist.



https://www.wgal.com/article/9-year-old-girl-discovers-megalodon-tooth/42629419 9-year-old girl discovers ‘once in a lifetime’ megalodon tooth

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