Mockumentaries on Discovery Channel’s annual Shark Week have sparked conspiracy theories that megalodons are still surviving in the deep sea, evading detection. Megalodon once dominated Earth’s oceans and despite vanishing from the fossil record millions of years ago, rumors persist that these gigantic sharks are still alive. However, this is not necessarily the fault of The Meg. The ocean’s most formidable cold-hearted killer, the long-extinct giant megalodon shark, may have been warm-blooded, which could have caused its disappearance more than three million years ago.
The new action movie The Meg, where Jason Statham battles an 18-meter-long megalodon, posits that a few members of the species are still alive, free to roam. For decades, the Otodus megalodon has been depicted as an oversize great white. However, new analyses of where it sits on the shark family tree show that predator scientists know now is very different.
While there is no dispute that they existed or were gigantic, Otodus megalodon are known only from their fossilized teeth and vertebrae. Studies suggest that competition with great white sharks for food may also have contributed to megalodon’s downfall. A new study leaves large tooth marks in previous conclusions about the body shape of the Megalodon, one of the largest sharks that ever lived.
Several dominant theories include extinction due to natural decrease in prey, competition with great white sharks for food, and the existence of megalodons in the deep sea. However, media depictions like The Meg can drive bizarre conspiracy theories that megalodons are still alive.
📹 The Why and How of the Megalodon Extinction (What Killed the Giant Shark)
How did one of the largest apex predators on planet Earth go extinct? Check out today’s new epic video where we explain how …
Is the megalodon still alive in 2024?
The Megalodon, the largest shark to ever live, went extinct around 3. 5 million years ago. Fossil Era, a reputable fossil dealer, sells authentic Megalodon teeth in various sizes and prices, from small to large muesum quality teeth. Each tooth has detailed descriptions, images, and information about its collecting location and formation. To learn more about the extinction of the Megalodon shark, visit the Megalodon Shark Page.
Did scientists find a living megalodon?
Many people believe that the megalodon is still alive due to popular fictional documentaries that remove science and fiction. However, there is no scientific evidence to support the existence of a living megalodon. The only logical explanation is that the shark was eaten by something, and the tracking device was in the predator’s digestive track. However, headlines on the internet are skewed, mentioning a “Huge” 9-foot Great White, a “mystery sea monster”, or a new “super predator”. This can lead people to assume that a Megalodon shark ate the Great White. The real evidence for the existence of a living megalodon is not available.
Could we bring back megalodon?
The Megalodon, a massive shark species, is highly unlikely to return due to the lack of good DNA and deteriorating over time. The idea of bringing the Megalodon back raises ethical and ecological questions, as it would be disastrous to reintroduce an apex predator into our current ocean, where many animals are already near extinction. The ethical implications of bringing the Megalodon back to a world no longer designed to support it and how marine life could prepare for it are significant.
The role of humans in conservation of existing shark species is also crucial, as many species are threatened by overfishing, habitat loss, and climate change. Instead of focusing on bringing back extinct species, it is essential to focus on protecting and preserving the animals we have.
What would happen if megalodon was alive today?
The megalodon, a species of shark, would likely be known about today due to the vulnerability of its population to poaching, similar to that of the great white shark. As a result of human exploitation, larger sharks are at an elevated risk of extinction, rendering their survival unlikely. This would have resulted in the discovery of definitive evidence of Megalodon, given that humans kill as many as 100 million sharks annually.
What killed megalodon?
Climate change is believed to have played a role in the extinction of the Megalodon, a mackerel shark that was most at home in tropical conditions. As the Earth moved into the Pliocene epoch, temperatures fell due to factors such as lowering sea levels and closing the Central American Seaway. This changed ocean currents, preventing warmer water from reaching the poles and preserving a warmer global temperature. As sea levels lowered, more seawater became locked up as polar ice, further lowering global temperatures.
Fossil evidence suggests that the Megalodon was a mesotherm, able to regulate its body temperature to some extent, but not to the level of an endothermic animal like a mammal. This regional endothermy, similar to modern lamnid sharks, suggests a correlation between adaptations and a lifestyle of active predation. Fossil remains suggest that historically colder waters had a much lower Megalodon presence.
Are we 100% sure the megalodon is extinct?
Megalodon teeth, lost in the past, are found in fossils, some at the bottom of the ocean and others washed up on shore. However, no tooth less than 3. 5 million years old has been found, leading scientists to believe megalodon went extinct. Megalodons were often near shore, where they easily found prey, making them difficult to miss. If they still existed, people would have seen them through photographs and videos.
Is there 1 megalodon in the world?
Megalodon, a species of shark, is now extinct, having become extinct approximately three million years ago. This occurred approximately five million years ago. This conclusion has been reached through an examination of the teeth, which are lost throughout the animal’s lifespan. A substantial number of these lost teeth have been discovered as fossils, yet none are less than 3. 5 million years old. This evidence suggests that the extinction of the megalodon occurred at approximately this time.
What are the new findings about megalodons?
A new study reveals that the Megalodon, a massive shark that went extinct 3. 6 million years ago, was more slender than previously thought. This discovery changes scientists’ understanding of Megalodon behavior, ancient ocean life, and why the sharks went extinct. The Megalodon, often depicted as a super-sized monster in popular culture, was largely known only from its teeth and vertebrae in the fossil record. Previous studies used the modern great white shark as a model for Megalodon bodies, leading to the conclusion that the shark was round and stocky.
Could the megalodon come back?
Megalodons, the largest sharks to ever live, went extinct around 3. 5 million years ago due to their habitat being lost, food source being extinct, and other smaller apex predators in the oceans occupying their niche. The megalodon is no longer alive today, and its extinction research can be found on the Megalodon Shark Page. Authentic Megalodon teeth are available from Fossil Era, a reputable fossil dealer, in various sizes and prices, with detailed descriptions and images of their collecting location and formation.
Did megalodon exist with humans?
Megalodon, a giant shark with fearsome jaws, went extinct about 3. 6 million years ago during the Miocene period. Our species, Megalodon, only existed for over 300, 000 years. Most of our knowledge about Megalodon comes from its teeth, which are now prized fossils found on beaches, ancient riverbeds, and archaeological sites. Scientists have analyzed its fossil teeth for decades to gain insights into its body dimensions, diet, and reproductive habits.
As technology advances, new discoveries are made and old ones are debunked, slowly building a picture of how this true ocean giant looked and lived. Scientists estimate that Megalodon had a bite force of 108, 514 – 182, 201 Newtons (N), which is 3 times stronger than the T-rex and 10 times that of a great white.
What has been found of megalodon?
Megalodon vertebrae, the size of a dinner plate, have been found in Peru, with a braincase, teeth, and a small string of vertebrae. This fossil may help create a better picture of these giant predators. Megalodon became extinct by the end of the Pliocene (2. 6 million years ago), when the planet entered a phase of global cooling. New evidence suggests that the last megalodon died at least 3. 6 million years ago.
📹 Did They Find a Living Megalodon In the Mariana Trench?
Сould Megalodon sharks still be alive in the deepest parts of the ocean? Science tells us that Megalodon sharks are extinct.
i remember back when i was in grade 1, we had to do this project where we chose an animal, did resaerch on it, and make a poster about it. i chose a megaladon, and i was the most enthuseastic about this project out of the whole class. i spent a long time doing reaserch, and since it was a poster we also got to draw a picture, so i drew proberly the trashiest picture ever, but i was proud of it at the time.
To whoever does research for The Infographics Show: BE CAREFUL! You mistakenly said the largest Great White was 36 ft. Though there have been measurements, they are questionable. The top confirmed size a Great White can get is 20ft. The 36ft supposed White may actually of been a case of mistaken identity, such as a Basking shark.
U know wht infographics show is really entertaining and interesting. Its filled with either education or other entertainment series like this. Btw there’s another marine animal in the ocean that can fight or dominate over the Megalodon. That marine creature is Livyatan whale. Its also said that it hunted Megalodon as food. The Livyatan whale is also very deadly it also has razor sharp, serrated and tough teeth. Its 80-100 feet long. It can defeat the Meg. Livyatan also has a tough body so hard for the Meg to injury it.
Nice article, thanks a lot! Recently I saw that Great whites population was endangered and it was discovered that Orcas (Killer whales) are hunting them in groups to eat their livers mostly (and other internal organs i guess). While perusal your article I thought orcas could have also influenced their dissaparition, as the fossil record tells us Orcas appeared around 11 M. y. a. and Megs dissapeared 3 M. y. a.. Just a thought as it could bring more light to the reasons why Megs went extint. Great website btw 🙂
I have a reason why megalodons are completely extinct, megalodon were all over Florida millions of years ago, and during that time Florida wasn’t so deep, it was actually shallow meaning megalodons were shallow water hunters so that would mean if they were still here we would see them already, but we don’t, and we all know they can’t live in the deepest parts of the ocean, no food to survive and plus they are huge sharks, they need a lot of food
Hi! I really like your articles, only, the narrator speaks a biiiit too fast and it makes me quite dizzy. It is hard to follow the subtitles too. Is there a reason to that, such as getting the most informations possible in one short article? Imo it would make it an even better experience if it was a bit slower 😊 Your subjects are super interesting tho. Hope you consider this comment! 🦈
Could it be that the great white is just the megalodon that evolved into a dwarf form allowing it to survive? After all it was said in the article that the great white only appeared around the time the Meg disappeared. This is a longshot but I vaguely remember hearing something about migration pattern of females differing to males. Perhaps their birthing grounds were cut of by the changing geography.
i have a reason on why they could be alive since fossils were found on land, it must’ve been beached somehow and since about 95 percent of the ocean has not been explored there could be more fossils, deep down but no one found one, and since 95 percent has not been explored lots could still be roaming that can take down packs of great whites adapting to the changes.
this may be wrong but here’s my hypothesis- when the dinosaurs went extinct * 65 million years ago * the megalodon miraculously survived. since the megoladon was the only dinosaur at that time (probably not) the food wasn’t big enough and didn’t have that many nutrients in them the megalodon had no food to sustain itself.
Cool article, but minor critics as there were two pieces of misinformation. 1: never splash in open water. Sharks especially, ones that rely on more fleshy animals, consume sick and dying animals. Splashing resembles that and they have poor eyesight which might lead them to be attracted to you because you’re splashing. Only splash in pools and whatnot (but even then just don’t). 2: sharks (and I’m assuming the Meg) are cartilaginous fish which means they do not have bones. Only their jaw and teeth are bones. Finding a complete skeleton of a Meg is impossible as they’re made out of cartilage so once they die their body is completely decomposed with nothing is left (except jaw and teeth).
I’m not scientist but don’t scientist preach that we’ve only explored less than 30% of the worlds ocean due to technology limitations sharks like the Meg could still be alive due to adapting into a darker environment. Which you go through all that fact of evolution to prove its extinction but didn’t consider evolution as a possibility for progression.
“At this point in time a full Megalodon skeleton has not been found.” Well…..that’s because sharks don’t have skeletons. The only bones they have are their jaws. Everything else is cartilage. So, the only way we’ll ever find one whole is if one was miraculously frozen somehow, and is still intact somewhere….and then we find it lol.
To be fair not every species of shark relies on its eysight once in range with its prey. The greenland shark typically loses its eysight when in adulthood yet this never affects its ability ro hunt. Im not saying the Megaladon is still lurking somewhere but im suggesting it may have had different features than the typical shark.
You actually have a few things wrong… One, megs fed one EVERYTHING, not just whales, although those were their main source of food. Two, there was a slighting of a giant whale with it’s tail bitten off in one clean bite, but no one knows for sure how. Three, yes. We’ve been exploring our ocean for 100s of years, but we only recently made very new and very expensive tech that can reach places like the mariana trench, and we’ve also only explored around 5-7% of the world’s oceans in those 100s of years. Also there was a meg tooth thought to only have been around 10,000-14,000 years old, but it’s unconfirmed if it’s actually a meg tooth due to it’s age.
In fact, it was not at the top of the foodchain. There were also Livyathan, a sort of killer whale on steroids. Based on what we can observe today about relation between killer whales and great whites, we can assume that maybe megs and livyathans had the same relation, meaning livyathans could have hunt megs to devour some of their internal organs.
1. ‘Larger animals have a harder time staying warm in colder environments’. False. Larger bodied animals hold heat more efficiently because they have smaller suface area in proportion to their body mass. Which freezes faster: a puddle or a lake? 2. ‘Sharks are ectothermic’. Some are, some aren’t. Mackerel sharks, like white sharls and makos, tend to be mesothermic. This means that they can keep their temperatures elevated above the surrounding water.
What if Great whites are megalodon but throughout the years they have just grown smaller kind of like reptiles for example crocs and anacondas I’m pretty sure 150 years ago the smallest snake could easily be around 30ft same applies with crocs what if after all this time some of these species never went extinct but because of humans upsetting and destroying the environment they no longer live long enough to be able to grow to these massive sizes
No main predators? Huh? They had to contend with Livyatan Melvillei which was a little bit smaller but much smarter, the difference between the intelligence of a fish and a mammal is ridiculous. Livyatan would have that fish’s fins off for soup in a minute. It had an armored battering ram for a skull and a mouth full of the largest teeth ever. On top of that, there are some reasons to believe that Livyatan may have hunted in pods like modern day orca… watch a article of a group of bottlenose dolphins target a solitary great white much larger than they are.. it’s sad how easy they make it look, and how gleefully they look as they remove the fins, they make it a game and once the shark is just an angry floating meal, then they just leave because it was all for fun. Another animal is the proposed “Triassic Kraken” which could DEFINITELY take one down and I believe that animal existed. That one would’ve been been one of the largest animal ever, something like 90 ft-110 ft the only animals largest would be the blue whale in weight and the Aust Colossus Icthyllosaur, which could be the same size of the blue whale if not a little bit bigger