Otodus megalodon

Overview

Megalodon, meaning "big tooth," is one of the most legendary creatures to ever swim in Earth's oceans. This massive shark lived approximately 23 to 3.6 million years ago during the Miocene and Pliocene epochs, making it one of the most powerful predators in marine history.

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Taxonomy & Classification

• Class: Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish)
• Order: Lamniformes
• Family: Otodontidae
• Diet: Carnivorous

Megalodon is often compared to the great white shark, but they belong to different families. Megalodon was more closely related to other extinct giant sharks.

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Physical Characteristics

Size & Build

• Length: 15-18 meters (50-60 feet), possibly larger
• Weight: Estimated 50,000-70,000 kg
• Body Type: Streamlined, torpedo-shaped body built for power

Megalodon was roughly three times the size of today's great white shark, making it the largest shark to ever exist!

Teeth & Jaw

• Teeth could reach 18 centimeters (7 inches) in length
• Triangular, serrated teeth perfect for slicing through flesh and bone
• Jaw opening estimated at 3 meters (10 feet) wide
• Bite force of over 180,000 newtons—the strongest bite of any animal ever!

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Hunting & Diet

Prey

Megalodon was an apex predator that hunted:

• Whales (including ancestors of modern whales)
• Dolphins and porpoises
• Seals and sea lions
• Large fish and other sharks

Hunting Strategy

Scientists believe megalodon used several attack methods:

• Ramming prey at high speed to stun them
• Targeting fins and tails to immobilize victims
• Crushing bones with its incredibly powerful jaws

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Habitat & Distribution

Megalodon had a global distribution, with fossils found on every continent except Antarctica. It preferred:

• Warm, shallow coastal waters
• Areas near continental shelves
• Regions rich in marine mammal populations

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Extinction

Megalodon went extinct around 3.6 million years ago. Scientists believe several factors contributed:

• Climate cooling reduced warm water habitats
• Whale migration to colder polar waters where megalodon couldn't follow
• Competition from other predators, including great white sharks
• Declining food sources as prey populations shifted

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Pop Culture & Legacy

Megalodon has captured human imagination like few other prehistoric creatures:

• Featured in movies like The Meg and Shark Week specials
• Megalodon teeth are highly prized by fossil collectors
• Continues to inspire (unfounded) theories that it might still exist in deep ocean trenches

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Cool Facts for Young Explorers

• A single megalodon tooth can be bigger than your hand!
• Megalodon could swallow a great white shark whole
• Its teeth are the most commonly found shark fossils because sharks constantly shed and replace teeth throughout their lives
• A megalodon could eat about 2,500 pounds of food per day

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Megalodon remains one of the most fascinating predators in Earth's history—a true giant that ruled the ancient seas!