Therefore, it is only possible to theorize what the megalodon truly looked like and how it hunted, swam, and thrived in the ocean. The earliest records of the megalodon (according to fossil records) have been calculated to be between 25 – 28 million years old, giving this large predatory shark a fairly long uninterrupted existence on this planet!īecause the megalodon became extinct around 1.5 million years and their bones have largely decayed over many millennia, it has proven somewhat difficult for researchers to identify the appearance and behavior of the megalodon truly. Simple animals began inhibiting the earth 600 millions years ago followed by fish 100 million years laterĭuring these early years of animal life, the ocean was inhabited by fish, squid, sea animals, and predatory sharks that continued to grow in size and eventually became quite enormous.Īs evolution continued to evolve, so did the world’s animals/predators, and eventually, animals such as the megalodon began dominating the food chain. Despite advances in technology and our understanding of the ocean, countless oceanic animals remain hidden and undiscovered.Īlthough simple cells and bacteria have been on this earth much longer than animal life (3.6 billion years), it is believed that fish began inhabiting the earth’s oceans around 500 million years ago. In fact, over 7o percent of the world today is covered in water. The beginning of life on this planet (when it comes to animals) is believed to have started in and around the earth’s oceans. To generate these extinction estimates, researchers have studied the fossil records of these enormous sharks using state-of-the-art technology and fossil reading techniques to estimate the age of the fossil bones that have been identified, such as megalodon teeth and backbone. However, scientists and researchers have claimed numerous theories for its possible extinction, which we’ll explain in further detail later in this article. Through archaeological findings and research, it is believed that the megalodon became extinct somewhere around 1.5 million years ago for unknown reasons. The massive 7-inch teeth that have been recovered from the now-extinct megalodon can be observed in various museums and aquariums as a true testament to this animal’s ginormous size.

In fact, due to its large size, this shark was given the name megalodon, which in translation means “big tooth.” long, it also happens to be the largest prehistoric shark to have ever existed and one of the most powerful predators on earth. The megalodon shark (aka the megatooth shark, monster shark, and giant white shark) is one of the most mysterious and elusive prehistoric animals globally.

Does a shark have a backbone