Meet the Megalodon: The Biggest Shark that Ever Lived
From Jaws and Deep Blue Sea to the recent big shark horror film, The Meg, big sharks have long been a source of fear and fascination. And if there’s one fish sure to instil galeophobia – or fear of sharks – it’s the striking, utterly massive megalodon.
An apex predator of unrivalled size and strength, the megalodon was the king of the deep blue for millions of years, topping the food chain with its tremendous bite and sheer power. Those of a nervous disposition when it comes to sharks will be pleased to hear that this bus-sized fish has long been extinct, but even after 3.6 million years, the meg continues to capture our imagination.
Keen to learn more about the mighty megalodon? Then join us as we explore this incredible fish in greater depth, from its size, shape and appearance, to its diet, bite strength, and the circumstances behind its disappearance all those years ago.
What is a Megalodon?
The megalodon (Carcharocles megalodon) was a prehistoric shark which ruled the oceans millions of years ago. Megalodon fossils show archaeologists that this shark existed for at least 20 million years, from approximately 23 million years ago up to 3 million years ago.
Megalodons were not only the biggest sharks, but the biggest fish ever recorded on Earth – eclipsing even the whale shark in length and scale (which is the largest fish in our oceans today). These colossal apex predators are known to have been three times larger than the biggest great whites ever recorded – giving you an idea of their extraordinary power and ferocity.
Biologists have been studying the megalodon for decades, and their fossils are relatively common. Their teeth, in particular, give a clue as to their size and potency, and are among the remains most frequently discovered. Reaching 18 centimetres in length (that’s about half a foot), it’s clear where these predators got their name – with ‘megalodon’ translating to ‘big tooth’ in Ancient Greek.
What’s most fascinating about megalodons – aside from their extraordinary size – is how well they were adapted to the world’s oceans. Biologists have discovered megalodon fossils on every continent except Antarctica, and believe that the shark will have been a prolific hunter in both warm and cold seas – a trait shared by only a handful of their modern-day descendants.
When did the Megalodon become Extinct?
Yes, megalodons are extinct, despite what Jason Statham would lead us to believe. Megalodons were around in prehistory and went extinct approximately 3.6 million years ago, during the Pliocene era.
Megalodons, like all sharks and other marine animals, are extraordinarily old, with numbers and dates that are hard to fathom. While scientists agree that they went extinct over 3 million years ago, it’s thought that they were around for 100 million years before that. Indeed, the oldest known megalodon fossil is believed to date from around 55 million years ago, but scientists reckon they’d been around a long time before then.
But why did the megalodon go extinct? Scientists understand this came as a result of a period of global cooling, when the temperature of our oceans dropped by several degrees. This had a major impact on organisms throughout the food chain, with 43% of sea turtles and 35% of sea birds becoming extinct as a result. This made food sources scarce, particularly for such a large animal.
The disappearance of prey naturally resulted in the loss of key apex predators, including the megalodon. For this reason, it’s unlikely that megalodons still exist today, even in the darkest depths of the ocean.
How Big was the Megalodon?
Megalodons were big, very big. So big, in fact, that their average length was even larger than whale shark, the biggest fish in our oceans.
In studying megalodon fossils, biologists have built an accurate picture of their size and appearance. Estimates suggest they averaged around 15-18 metres, and were similar to the modern-day blue shark, with angled pectoral fins and a long snout.
A common misconception about the origins of megalodon sharks is that they are the early ancestors of the great white shark, but scientists have found this not to be the case. Instead, megalodons were part of a separate lineage of prehistoric sharks, of which they were the last member. Indeed, they may even have seen their younger cousins as food – with studies revealing that megalodons almost certainly snacked on smaller sharks, whales and other large creatures of the deep.
It’s also been demonstrated through fossil evidence that females were significantly larger than males. This is likely due to females needing to have more energy stored to produce and store eggs.
To put the megalodon’s massive size into perspective, here we rank it alongside other leviathans of the natural world, as well as a few recognisable objects and landmarks.
How Big were Megalodon Teeth?
Just like modern-day sharks, the teeth of a megalodon were incredibly important to its ability to catch prey. Without these fearsome teeth, and plenty of them, they’re almost useless as predators.
The sheer size of the megalodon’s teeth is worthy of marvel, with fossils showing that they were mostly between 4 and 5 inches in length, almost double the length of a great white’s teeth, with a sharp triangular shape.
These fearsome teeth were used to tear into large fish and marine mammals. A creature as large as a megalodon would require a substantial amount of food to sustain itself, with some estimates suggesting it would need nearly 1000 kg of food per day to survive.
What did the Megalodon Look Like?
The megalodon is thought to have looked similar to a great white shark, although it was considerably larger. It would have had grey and white colouration, large jaws and powerful fins that would propel it through the oceans at speed.
In comparison to a great white, the megalodon was more slender and had taller dorsal and tail fins. It also had a blunt snout, compared to the great white’s pointed snout.
Where did the Megalodon Live?
One of the most fascinating aspects of the megalodon’s story is that its fossils have been found in every ocean except the Arctic Ocean. This shows that the enormous predator was capable of adapting to different water temperatures, from temperate to tropical waters, and different diets.
While this isn’t unheard of in the animal kingdom today, it still demonstrates just how well adapted this creature was and how it managed to survive for millions of years.
Like their modern-day relatives, the megalodon would have likely lived in shallow coastal waters, not the depths of the oceans like some pervasive myths would have you believe.
4 Additional Must-Know Megalodon Facts
The megalodon is more than just a big shark; here are some facts you probably won’t have heard before.
Stronger bite force than a T. rex
Comparing one apex predator to another, the megalodon is thought to have had a stronger bite than the T. rex, between 108,500 and 182,200 newtons (N).
Only a blue whale has ever weighed more
The only animal that scientists think has weighed more than a megalodon is the blue whale, which still exists today. The blue whale can weigh up to 130,000 – 150,000 kg.
The megalodon isn’t closely related to the great white shark
It was previously thought that the megalodon was closely related to the great white shark, but they’re actually distant cousins who belong to separate families. It’s thought they’re close relatives of the Mako shark.
You can see fossilised megalodon teeth in museums across the world
Sharks do not have bones; instead, their skeleton is made of cartilage, which improves flexibility and reduces weight. Cartilage doesn’t fossilise particularly well, leaving no complete megalodon fossils behind. You can, however, see their fossilised teeth in museums across the world.
Megalodons might be extinct, but you can still see their relatives swimming around our oceans and in aquariums like Deep Sea World. To see these brilliant animals up close, book your tickets to Deep Sea World now.
