A Great White shark tooth reportedly found on a beach in North Wales probably came from a shark tooth necklace.
The Sun reported today that a 6cm shark tooth was found by walker Steve Smith on a beach near the Menai Strait in Anglesey, North Wales.
Smith told The Sun: "I do a lot of kayaking in that area. They also do a lot of surfing there. I'm sure this will scare some people.
"I couldn't believe the size of it. That's what grabbed my attention."
The Sun says the discovery of the tooth, which experts have confirmed is from a Great White shark, Carcharodon carcharias, "adds mounting evidence that Great Whites are moving into British waters."
Tooth is from necklaceHowever, Practical Fishkeeping contacted Douglas Herdson, Information Officer from the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth who was skeptical about the discovery.
Herdson told Practical Fishkeeping: "I have only seen a photograph of the tooth in question. It is either a lower jaw tooth of a white shark Carcharodon carcharias, or a very good replica of one.
"However, there is a clear hole drilled exactly in the centre of the base, so it would appear to have been lost from a necklace.
"It is of course now illegal to import these teeth under the CITES agreement."
Shark teeth and shark tooth necklaces are readily available on online auction sites and large examples, like this one, can change hands for 100 or more.