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Otodus megalodon (/ ˈ m ɛ ɡ əl ə d ɒ n / MEG-əl-ə-don; meaning "big tooth"), commonly known as megalodon, is an extinct species of giant mackerel shark that lived approximately 23 to 3.6 million years ago (Mya), from the Early Miocene to the Pliocene epochs.
- Overview
- Distribution
- Physical features
- Reproduction and territoriality
megalodon, (Carcharocles megalodon), member of an extinct species of megatooth shark (Otodontidae) that is considered to be the largest shark, as well as the largest fish, that ever lived. Fossils attributed to megalodon have been found dating from the early Miocene Epoch (which began 23.03 million years ago) to the end of the Pliocene Epoch (2.58 ...
Fossil remains of megalodon have been found in shallow tropical and temperate seas along the coastlines and continental shelf regions of all continents except Antarctica. During the early and middle parts of the Miocene Epoch (which lasted from 23 million to 5.3 million years ago), large seaways separated North America from South America and Europe...
Megalodon was the largest fish ever known, a designation based on discoveries of hundreds of fossil teeth, two vertebral columns, and a handful of individual vertebrae. Tooth-shape similarities between megalodon and modern great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) suggest that the two species may have been close relatives, and thus megalodon likely resembled that species in appearance—that is, as a bulky torpedo-shaped fish with a conical snout, large pectoral and dorsal fins, and a strong crescent-shaped tail. Estimates of body length are calculated using the statistical relationship between the size of megalodon’s fossil teeth and the teeth and body mass of modern white sharks and other living relatives. This data suggests that mature adult megalodons had a mean length of 10.2 metres (about 33.5 feet), the largest specimens measuring 17.9 metres (58.7 feet) long. Some scientists, however, contend that the largest forms may have measured up to 25 metres (82 feet) long. Studies estimate that adult body mass ranged from roughly 30 metric tons (1 metric ton = 1,000 kg; about 66,000 pounds) to more than 65 metric tons (about 143,000 pounds), adult females being larger (in both length and mass) than adult males.
Megalodon teeth are similar to those of modern white sharks in that they are triangular, serrated, and symmetrical. They differ from modern white shark teeth in that they are larger and thicker, the serrations on each tooth occur in regular intervals, and they possess a bourlette (a darker, chevron-shaped region near the tooth’s root). The largest extant megalodon tooth measures 17.8 cm (6.9 inches) in length, almost three times longer than those of modern white sharks (which are typically about 5.4 cm [2.1 inches] long). In addition, megalodon possessed a ferocious bite; its bite diameter was 3 metres (about 9.8 feet), several times larger than the bite diameter of averaged-sized white sharks.
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Understanding Megalodon
Megalodon is thought to have produced live young. It is not known, however, whether the species was ovoviviparous (in which eggs are retained within the mother until they hatch) or viviparous (in which fertilized embryos derive continuous nourishment from the mother). Estimates of body size using juvenile teeth suggest that newly birthed young may have been at least 2 metres (6.6 feet) in length.
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Few details are known about megalodon courtship, but the species appears to have used nurseries for its young. A 2010 study identified a megalodon nursery along the Panamanian coast, which was characterized by the presence of juvenile teeth from various stages of life. Scientists posit that this shallow warm-water nursery provided young megalodons with access to a diverse array of smaller, more-abundant prey and enabled adults to better intercept attacks from other predatory shark species, such as hammerhead sharks. As the young sharks grew older, it is thought that they would make forays into deeper water to pursue larger animals.
- John P. Rafferty
The most famous prehistoric shark, Carcharocles megalodon, nicknamed megalodon or megatooth, ruled the seas from about 17 million years ago up to almost three million years ago. The colossal...
Other articles from kids.nationalgeographic.com
Mar 1, 2023 · The megalodon, which went extinct millions of years ago, was the largest shark ever to prowl the oceans and one of the largest fish on record. The scientific name, Otodus megalodon, means...
How big is a megalodon shark? Does megalodon still exist? Museum fossil fish expert Emma Bernard cuts through the hype and reveals facts about the largest shark that ever lived, from size and diet to its awe-inspiring teeth and where to find them.
Aug 24, 2020 · Megalodon was one of the largest fish the world has ever seen. This massive shark was not only the largest shark to ever live, but also ranked as one of the biggest fish until the species went extinct.
megalodon, Extinct shark (Carcharocles megalodon) of the family Otodontidae which is considered to be the largest shark, as well as the largest fish (and possibly the largest marine predator), that ever lived.
