Can someone help me identify this possible tooth?

Question

I found this walking along the beach at South Padre Island in the Gulf of Mexico July 4th, 2008. Below is a link to my photobucket album that includes three pictures of the toothy object. It's 3 inches in length and a little over 1 1/2 inches in width. When I first found it it was black and grey in color and dried overnight to a white color with orange specks. It came in with a wave. I nearly stepped on it. At first we thought it could be a shark tooth, but doesn't look like a normal tooth, so now we're stumped. If anyone could help me identify it or give me a website to someone who can, that would be great! Thanks!

http://s166.photobucket.com/albums/u82/olivegreen17/Possible%20Tooth/

Answer 1

Ya I don't think it's a tooth. I have no clue what it is, probably a bone.

Answer 2

'tiss not a jaw nor tooth.. but the gill cover (the bony/cartilagenous part at least) of a large fish

Answer 3

Neither a tooth nor a jawbone, I think. Looks like part of a squid or cuttlefish. Try your nearest natural history musem, they probably have a website and will be more than happy to help.

Answer 4

It is not a tooth.

It looks more like a jawbone by your pictures.

I can not say that for sure or what kind of animal it came from, but it looks like a lower jaw (dentary) bone of something.