Prehistory and the time of the dinosaurs is endlessly fascinating. It was a time when behemoths ruled the earth and the oceans, too. And megalodon is one of the most fearsome creatures so far discovered on land or sea. But what do we actually know about this incredible beast? It’s gotten a lot of bad press thanks to movies like Meg, but just how much truth is there to those kinds of movies? And what was the real creature like?
The megalodon, a massive predator that once ruled the seas, has been extinct for millions of years. Its scientific name, Otodus megalodon, means “giant tooth,” reflecting the enormous size of its teeth, which are far larger than those of today’s great white sharks. The discovery of these teeth has given us valuable information about the megalodon’s life and extinction.
1. Different from Great Whites
Despite popular belief, megalodons didn’t just look like oversized great whites. They probably had shorter snouts, broader, flatter jaws, and longer pectoral fins to support their massive bodies.
2. Megalodon’s Powerful Bite
The megalodon had an incredibly powerful bite, estimated between 108,514 and 182,201 Newtons. This is far stronger than any modern predator, including the great white shark. For comparison, a human bite force is about 1,317 Newtons. This immense power made the megalodon a dominant force in the oceans.
3. Megalodons Weren’t as Huge as You Think
While megalodons were huge, some myths and movies, like Meg, exaggerate their size. The largest megalodons reached about 58.7 feet, which is still enormous, but not as gigantic as portrayed in fiction. Even so, a nearly 60-foot shark is impressive enough!
4. Megalodons Had Massive Jaws
Megalodons had incredibly wide jaws, measuring about 8.8 by 11.1 feet. These jaws allowed them to swallow large prey whole. Imagine jaws big enough to fit two grown humans side by side!
5. A Terrifying Mouth
Inside those giant jaws were 276 enormous teeth. The biggest tooth found measures 6.9 inches, over three times larger than a great white shark’s tooth. Sharks, including megalodons, constantly lose and replace teeth throughout their lives.
6. Megalodon’s Diet
What did these massive sharks eat? To maintain their size, megalodons feasted on large prey like dolphins and humpback whales. Fossilized whale bones with deep cuts from megalodon teeth and broken tooth tips stuck in them reveal their eating habits.
7. Megalodons Were Cartilage Giants
Ever wondered how we learn about creatures that didn’t leave behind bones? Like modern sharks, megalodons had skeletons made of cartilage instead of bone. This made them lighter and more agile, perfect for catching prey. This feature was key to their success as top predators in their time.
8. Megalodon Nurseries
Evidence shows that megalodons had nurseries for their young. Juvenile teeth found off Panama’s coast suggest they raised their pups in shallower, warmer coastal waters to protect them from deep-water predators.
9. Not Related to Great Whites
Many people think megalodons were related to great white sharks, but they belonged to a different branch of the shark family tree. Their earliest known ancestor is Otodus obliquus, a shark from 55 million years ago. Megalodons and great whites likely coexisted and competed for resources during their overlapping periods.
10. Megalodons Lived Worldwide
Megalodons thrived in warm waters across the globe. Fossilized teeth have been found on every continent except Antarctica. The East Coast of North America, especially around North and South Carolina and Florida, is a hotspot for these teeth due to the geological age and accessibility of the seabed.
11. Common Fossilized Teeth
Megalodon teeth are relatively common because sharks constantly shed teeth. Sharks can go through up to 40,000 teeth in a lifetime. These teeth, being the most durable part of their bodies, often fossilize and survive through the ages.
12. Rare Megalodon Fossils
While teeth are common, other megalodon fossils are rare. Cartilage, unlike bone, doesn’t fossilize well. However, fossilized vertebrae the size of dinner plates have been found, along with a few jaw fragments and a supposed brain case from other ancient sharks.
13. Name Changes
The megalodon has had several name changes over the years. Initially called Carcharocles megalodon, it was later reclassified as Otodus megalodon, reflecting its place in the Otodontidae family.
14. Could Megalodons Still Exist Somewhere?
Despite myths, megalodons are extinct. There’s no evidence, like recent megalodon-sized bite marks on marine animals, to suggest otherwise. They preferred shallow, nutrient-rich waters, making their survival in deep, uncharted waters unlikely.
15. No Connection to Dinosaurs
Although both are extinct, megalodons and dinosaurs never coexisted. Dinosaurs disappeared about 66 million years ago, while megalodons appeared around 23 million years ago during the Miocene Epoch.
16. Female Megalodons Were Bigger
Female megalodons were significantly larger than males, possibly twice their size. This size difference is still seen in many modern sharks today.
17. Partially Warm-Blooded
Scientists believe megalodons were partially warm-blooded, like today’s great whites. This adaptation allowed them to hunt in cooler waters, expanding their hunting grounds.
18. Enormous Appetites
Megalodons needed about 2,500 pounds of food daily to sustain their size. Their diet included large whales and other sharks.
19. No Overlap with Humans
Megalodons went extinct around 2.6 million years ago, while early human ancestors appeared about 2.5 million years ago. This means there was a gap of about 100,000 years between the last megalodons and the first humans.
20. Megalodons Ruled for 20 Million Years
Megalodons dominated the oceans for an impressive 20 million years. Their long reign as apex predators had a significant impact on marine ecosystems worldwide. They adapted to various changes in the ocean’s climate and geography, proving their resilience.
21. Misunderstood Fossils
Before we understood megalodon teeth, people thought they were dragon tongues. In the 17th century, these teeth were believed to have medicinal properties and were collected for their supposed magical benefits.
22. Extinction Causes
The extinction of the megalodon coincided with global cooling at the end of the Pliocene Epoch. This cooling reduced their tropical habitats and prey, contributing to their decline around 3.6 million years ago. Additionally, competition with great white ancestors for food sources likely played a role in their extinction.
23. Megalodon Teeth Were Tools for Study
Megalodon teeth have helped scientists understand more than just the shark itself. By analyzing the chemical composition of these teeth, researchers have gleaned insights into the ancient oceans’ temperatures and the shark’s migratory patterns.
24. Rapid Growth Rates
Megalodons grew rapidly, reaching about 20 feet long in their first 10 years. This fast growth rate was necessary for survival, as larger size offered better protection from predators and more efficient hunting capabilities.
25. They Could Swim Long Distances
Megalodons were capable of long-distance travel. Their powerful tails and streamlined bodies allowed them to swim great distances in search of food and suitable nursery areas, similar to the migratory patterns of some modern shark species.
26. Megalodons Were Top of the Food Chain
As apex predators, megalodons had few, if any, natural enemies. This position at the top of the food chain meant they played a crucial role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems by controlling the populations of large marine animals.
27. Loss of Nursery Grounds
Megalodons raised their young in shallow coastal waters, which served as nurseries. Ice formation and lowering sea levels during the cooling period would have destroyed these crucial nursery areas.
28. Competition with Great Whites
Megalodons also faced competition from great white shark ancestors. Both species had overlapping diets, and the smaller great whites had a survival advantage during times of scarce food due to their lower caloric needs.
Katy Willis is a writer, master herbalist, master gardener, and certified canine nutritionist who has been writing since 2002. She’s finds joy in learning new and interesting things, and finds history, science, and nature endlessly fascinating.
