Megalodon

The Carcharodon Megalodon, more commonly called Megalodon, is a species of shark that has been extinct for millions of years. The Megalodon shark was similar to the modern day great white shark, although much larger, weighing almost 100 tons and capable of growing to almost 67 feet in length with teeth as long as 7 inches. The Megalodon is said to have had the strongest bite of any creature that ever lived.

The picture on the right shows the maximum size of the Megalodon represented in gray, the average size of a Megalodon in red, the average Whale Shark in purple (currently the largest shark in existence), the average Great White in Green, and the average human in blue.

Fossils from the Megalodon have been found in oceans around the world ranging from near North America to near Europe to the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. Scientists have yet to figure out what caused the Megalodons to become extinct although there are many theories including a drop in food supply, oceanic temperature change, and new competition.

Take a piece of history home with you. Megalodon tooth fossils are now available in the SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium gift store!