About the Megalodon Shark: Size, Diet, Bite Force & Evolution
About the Megalodon Shark
Megalodon (Otodus megalodon) was one of the largest and most powerful sharks to ever live, roaming Earth’s oceans between roughly 15 and 3.6 million years ago during the Miocene and Pliocene epochs. As an apex predator of the Cenozoic Era, Megalodon dominated ancient seas before ultimately going extinct due to oceanic cooling, sea level changes, and a decline in available prey.
Megalodon means "big tooth." They are also referred to as the "megatooth" sharks. Megalodon adults were basically a giant version of a great white shark. While very little skeletal material has ever been found, fossil Megalodon teeth, along with bite marks preserved on whale bones, provide scientists and collectors with an extraordinary record of this prehistoric giant’s size, behavior, and evolution.
Because Megalodon teeth are the most common and well-preserved remains of this species, they’ve become one of the most sought-after marine fossils in the world. You can explore a range of authentic fossil Megalodon teeth for sale to see how size, color, and preservation vary between specimens.
Size
Since this megatooth shark was one of the top predators of its time, how big did it get? Some of the largest fossil Megalodon teeth ever discovered exceed 7 inches in slant height, though teeth of this size are exceptionally rare. The most common slant length is between 3 and 5 inches. With that said, it is very difficult to say how big the megalodon shark actually got.
In the past, lengths of up to 100 feet (30.48 Meters) have been speculated. Today, this length has been drastically reduced. With the help of jaw reconstruction from associated teeth, paleontologists have calculated some possible size estimates. Some of these estimates gave the Megalodon a maximum length of around 52 feet (16.5 Meters), while other estimates were a bit lower, around 42 feet (12.8 Meters). Reports of Megalodon skeletons suggesting lengths over 70 feet exist, but these claims have not been scientifically verified. The estimated weight of this animal is around a whopping 48 tons!
Diet
With an animal getting to the size that the megalodon did, it leaves a very good question. What did this massive megalodon shark eat? Fossil evidence suggests that this shark mainly preyed upon larger prey such as whales, dugongs, and other large creatures that inhabited the oceans during the megalodon’s reign. How do we know that these sharks fed on these animals? Pieces of bone are found by fossil hunters daily, and there are times when these bones will show some sort of predatory markings on them. Many of these bite-marked whale bones are found alongside fossil Megalodon teeth, further reinforcing the role this shark played as a specialized hunter of large marine mammals. Below, you can see that this piece of whale rib bone has some clear serration and gash marks on it.
Bite Strength
Researchers estimate Megalodon’s bite force ranged between 24,000 and 40,000 pounds, making it one of the most powerful bite forces ever recorded in a vertebrate. That's enough bite force to crush a car with ease.
Here are a few bite force estimates from other predatory species to compare:
- Great White Shark - 4,100 psi
- Tyrannosaurus Rex - 12,800 psi
- Dunkleostus - 1,200 - psi
Megalodon Evolution
For years, researchers and other scientists were convinced that the modern-day great white shark evolved from the megalodon shark, and were from the same family. Over time, that theory has changed. Today, the accepted theory is that the megalodon shark evolved from Otodus obliquus. Below is a picture of the whole evolutionary chain, starting from Otodus obliquus and ending with Otodus megalodon (often historically referred to as Carcharocles megalodon). Find out more here.
Photo Credit: Kendall Borchers
Written by: Brandon Zulli, owner of fossildriven.com
Related Reading
Want to learn more about fossil shark teeth? Check out these other posts:
- Where Are Fossil Megalodon Teeth Found?
- How to Spot Repaired or Restored Fossil Teeth
- How Fossil Shark Teeth Are Priced
Today, fossil Megalodon teeth remain the most tangible connection to this prehistoric giant, offering collectors a chance to own a genuine piece of ancient ocean history.
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