Initially researchers estimated this beast to be 80 to 100 feet in length. Megalodon was the largest shark the world has ever seen. More recent estimates are in the 40 to 50 feet range and weighing up to 48 tons. In fact only the sperm whale is usually bigger! This makes Megalodon one of the largest predators ever. It would take seven African elephants at seven tons each to equal the weight of this extinct shark.
They probably dined on whales. Providing nourishment for 48 tons of raw powered muscle mass is no slight task.This beast had no equal in the ocean and certainly nothing preyed upon it.
Little is known for sure about these giant predators because all that remains of their existence are fossilized teeth.Megalodon was a giant shark that lived during the Miocene and Pliocene epics of the Cenozoic Era, between 2 million and 16 million years ago. But what teeth they are! They range in size from 3 inches long to 7 inches long. Massive points that are bigger than a man’s hand. It sets the imagination reeling. A tooth from a shark like this is about 1. To put this in perspective a large great white shark steps about 20 feet long and weighs a little over 2 tons.5 inches long.
There are some differences.Megalodon teeth are very much like a super-sized version of the white shark. Other differences are the serrations at the edge of the tooth. This area is called the bourlette. The most notable of these is the darker chevron shaped area between the root and the blade of the tooth. These are finer than in the white shark and more regular.
The fossilized teeth are all that remains of this monster because sharks do not have bones. This is what your ears and nose are made from. Their skeleton is made up of cartilage. Cartilage does not fossilize well.
This is well accepted but units the stage for controversy.The white shark is the closest living relative to the megalodon.
The debate is over the relationship between the white shark and the megalodon. The scientific name is usually Carcharocles Megalodon. The point of contention has to do with megalodon’s family tree and whether it was a direct ancestor of the white shark or a great uncle on a different branch of the tree. This is not universally accepted. Others believe that though there are similarities, the differences suggest individual lines and so separate names.
Super Size Megalodon
They probably dined on whales. Providing nourishment for 48 tons of raw powered muscle mass is no slight task.This beast had no equal in the ocean and certainly nothing preyed upon it.
The Era of Megalodon
Little is known for sure about these giant predators because all that remains of their existence are fossilized teeth.Megalodon was a giant shark that lived during the Miocene and Pliocene epics of the Cenozoic Era, between 2 million and 16 million years ago. But what teeth they are! They range in size from 3 inches long to 7 inches long. Massive points that are bigger than a man’s hand. It sets the imagination reeling. A tooth from a shark like this is about 1. To put this in perspective a large great white shark steps about 20 feet long and weighs a little over 2 tons.5 inches long.
Megalodon Teeth
There are some differences.Megalodon teeth are very much like a super-sized version of the white shark. Other differences are the serrations at the edge of the tooth. This area is called the bourlette. The most notable of these is the darker chevron shaped area between the root and the blade of the tooth. These are finer than in the white shark and more regular.
No Bones About It
The fossilized teeth are all that remains of this monster because sharks do not have bones. This is what your ears and nose are made from. Their skeleton is made up of cartilage. Cartilage does not fossilize well.
The Family Tree
This is well accepted but units the stage for controversy.The white shark is the closest living relative to the megalodon.
The debate is over the relationship between the white shark and the megalodon. The scientific name is usually Carcharocles Megalodon. The point of contention has to do with megalodon’s family tree and whether it was a direct ancestor of the white shark or a great uncle on a different branch of the tree. This is not universally accepted. Others believe that though there are similarities, the differences suggest individual lines and so separate names.
