Beach combing, a baby squid, a fossilized tooth and sea pearl
Posted By RichC on March 24, 2026
Besides enjoying the company of Byron for several miles of our walk north on the beach yesterday (he and his wife Mary are from Iowa – we often chat with him) – our sea creature and shelling finds have been very interesting to say the least. Above is “another” baby squid … although this one wasn’t moving. ☹️
A couple particularly interesting beach combing finds as the Delray Beach Restoration project continues: 1) a fossilized tooth … a first for us and 2) a Gray Nickerbean or Sea Pearl (AI info below the break). I employed a little artificial intelligence as well as Wikipedia in order to learn … and investigate … a little bit more.
Based on the size, shape, and color, you have found a fossilized tooth, likely from a prehistoric marine mammal or a large predatory fish—most likely a Sperm Whale (Physeter) or possibly a Mosasaur.
Here is a breakdown of why this is a special find and how to identify it:
1. Is it Prehistoric or Current?
Color: Modern teeth (like from a contemporary shark or whale) are typically bright white. Your specimen has a tan, “café au lait” crown and a weathered, stony root. This discoloration happens over thousands to millions of years as minerals (like phosphate or iron) replace the organic material—a process called permineralization.Texture: The root (the larger, blunt end) looks like solid rock rather than bone. If it feels heavy for its size and sounds “clinky” like a stone when tapped against a hard surface, it is definitely a fossil.
2. What Animal Did It Come From?
While many people immediately think of sharks (like the Megalodon), shark teeth are generally flatter and more triangular. Your find is conical and robust, which points to a different kind of predator:Prehistoric Sperm Whale (Most Likely): Fossilized sperm whale teeth are common finds in Florida’s Miocene and Pliocene deposits (2 to 20 million years old). They are famous for being thick, slightly curved, and lacking the distinct enamel “cap” that sharks have. The size relative to your highlighter (about 3-4 inches) is a perfect match for a medium-to-large extinct whale.
Mosasaur: These were “T-Rexes of the sea” from the Cretaceous period. Their teeth are conical and very similar to what you have, though they are more commonly found in riverbeds or specific fossil formations than washed up on the Atlantic coast.
Crocodilian: Large prehistoric crocodiles (like Thecachampsa) also had thick, conical teeth, though they usually have more distinct vertical ridges (striations) than what is visible here.
Gemini AI said:
That is a very cool find! Based on your description and the image, you have most likely found a Gray Nickerbean (scientific name: Guilandina bonduc), also commonly known as a Nickernut or a Sea Pearl.
These are a type of “sea bean” or “drift seed.” Here is why it fits your description so perfectly:
Why it matches your find:
Appearance: They are famous for being smooth, hard, and stony-gray with a distinct small “eye” (the hilum) where they were once attached to the seed pod.Weight: While they look like heavy stones, they actually have a small internal air pocket. This makes them relatively lightweight and buoyant, which is how they end up on Delray Beach.
Durability: They are incredibly hard—much harder than a turtle egg. People often use them for jewelry or as good luck charms because they can survive for years in the ocean without decaying.
Where did it come from?
These seeds grow on large, thorny, vine-like shrubs found in tropical regions. While they do grow in parts of South Florida, many of the ones found on the Atlantic coast have traveled hundreds or even thousands of miles from the Caribbean or Central America, hitching a ride on the Gulf Stream before washing ashore.Fun Facts:
The Name: The name “nicker” comes from the Dutch word knikker, which means “marble.”Usage: In the Caribbean, these seeds are traditionally used as game pieces for mancala (Oware).
“Shinies”: Beachcombers often call these “shinies” because they can be buffed to a high gloss with a bit of effort.
If you’re interested, you could actually try to grow it! Because the seed coat is so thick and designed for the ocean, you usually have to carefully nick the shell with a file to let water in before planting it in soil.
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