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When did the megalodon shark go extinct, and why? – Landon, age 10
Escaping into the Depths of Time
Imagine if you could travel back in time to the oceans of 5 million years ago. As you stand on an ancient shoreline, you see several small whales gently moving across the surface of a long-lost sea.
Without warning, an enormous creature bursts forth from the depths. The megalodon, officially known as Otodus megalodon, one of the largest sharks to have ever existed, is on the hunt.
With its powerful jaws, this massive predator crushes one of the whales with ease and drags it into the depths, its teeth shredding the flesh. The remaining whales scatter, terrified. You have just witnessed the fierce hunting behavior of a megalodon.
The Magnificence of the Megalodon
As an expert in marine biology, I find myself captivated by the extraordinary predators that have roamed our oceans through the ages. Among these magnificent creatures is the megalodon, which first appeared approximately 15 to 20 million years ago, long after other giant marine reptiles like ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs had vanished.
When megalodon finally emerged, it was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Adult megalodons could weigh as much as 50 metric tons (over 110,000 pounds) and stretched between 50 to 60 feet in length—longer than a school bus and as hefty as a railroad car!
Imagine their jaws, widening to an astonishing 10 feet across, with teeth that could reach up to 7 inches in length. Their bite force was simply immense, measuring 40,000 pounds per square inch, demonstrating just how efficient a predator this creature was.
Megalodons thrived on a diet of large prey, as evidenced by fossilized megalodon teeth found embedded in the bones of substantial marine animals. Their menu included whales, large fish, seals, dolphins, and even other sharks.
Is Megalodon Truly Extinct?
Despite some persistent internet rumors claiming that megalodons roam the oceans today, scientists assert confidently that these magnificent creatures are extinct. They disappeared roughly 3.5 million years ago.
The definitive evidence for their extinction lies in their teeth. Sharks, including megalodons, continually produce and lose tens of thousands of teeth throughout their lives. This means there are numerous megalodon teeth still present in our fossil records. While many have been discovered in ocean floors or washed ashore, none are younger than 3.5 million years, supporting the belief that megalodon went extinct around this time.
Megalodons preferred shallower coastal waters, where prey was plentiful. If they were still alive today, sightings would be frequent, and we would undoubtedly have countless photographs and videos of these enormous animals.
Factors Leading to the Demise of Megalodon
The extinction of the megalodon likely resulted from a combination of several factors rather than a single cause. One significant issue was the drastic climate change occurring at that time. The global temperatures dropped, drastically reducing the habitat suitable for megalodon, which thrived in warmer waters.
Simultaneously, the changing climate led to the disappearance of entire species that megalodon depended on for food. This loss of prey was compounded by the rise in competition from other predators.
Competitors like the great white shark, though only a third of the size of a megalodon, began to vie for the same prey. Additionally, the killer sperm whale, a now-extinct species, rivaled megalodon in size and inhabited a broader range of waters due to being warm-blooded. This adaptability allowed killer sperm whales to thrive, complicating the megalodon’s struggle to find food.
Moreover, killer sperm whales likely traveled in social groups, which provided them with advantages during encounters with solitary megalodons. Collectively, these challenges—the cooling oceans, loss of prey, and increased competition—proved too formidable for megalodon to overcome.
This intricate web of factors ultimately sealed the fate of the megalodon, explaining why no modern-day teeth remain to be found.
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This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world.
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