The megalodon was a prehistoric shark that was estimated to be up to 60 feet long. It is believed that this giant predator went extinct about 2.6 million years ago.
This giant shark had teeth that were about seven inches long, and it is believed that it preyed on marine mammals such as whales and dolphins. These sharks also had a ferocious bite, with their teeth being able to exert a force of up to 24,000 pounds per square inch.
So what could have caused the extinction of this massive creature? There are several theories, but here are some of the most likely causes.
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1. Hunting by other predators
The megalodon was at the top of the food chain, but it wasn’t immune to being preyed upon. Taking a fresh look at the fossil record in a recent study, researchers are now proposing that they might have been killed by modern great white sharks.
2. Climate change
As with any species, a changing climate could have made it difficult for the megalodon to survive. If the ocean became too warm or too cold, the shark could not adapt and would eventually die out.
3. Disease
It is possible that a disease caused the extinction of the megalodon. This is difficult to prove, but if there was something going around that killed off this massive predator, it could be the reason why they are no longer around.
There is no one definitive answer as to what caused the extinction of the megalodon, but these are some of the most likely causes. It’s possible that there were several factors at play, or that we may never know what really happened. Regardless, this giant predator is now a thing of the past.
How We Know Megalodon Doesn’t Still Exist?
Despite what you may have seen in movies such as The Meg, it is very unlikely that the megalodon still exists. There are several reasons for this.
- First of all, we have no evidence that these sharks still exist. There have been no sightings of megalodon for many years, and there is no fossil evidence that these sharks are still alive.
- In addition, the megalodon would have a hard time surviving in today’s oceans. The water is not as warm as it was during the megalodon’s time, and there is less food for these sharks to eat.
- Sharks repeatedly shed and replace teeth throughout their lives, so if megalodon sharks were still alive today, we would expect to find evidence of their teeth. However, no such evidence has been found.
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