Otodus megalodon (/ ˈmɛɡələdɒn / MEG-əl-ə-don; meaning "big tooth"), commonly known as megalodon, is an extinct species of giant mackerel shark that lived approximately 23 to 3.58 million years ago (Mya), from the Early Miocene to the Early Pliocene epochs.
megalodon, (Carcharocles megalodon), member of an extinct species of megatooth shark (Otodontidae) that is considered to be the largest shark, as well as the largest fish, that ever lived.
Carcharocles megalodon was once the most fearsome predator to reign the seas. This ancient shark lived roughly 23 to 3.6 million years ago in nearly every corner of the ocean. Roughly up to 3 times the length of a modern-day great white shark, it is the largest shark to have ever lived.
Does megalodon still exist? Our fossil fish expert Emma Bernard cuts through the hype and reveals facts about the largest shark that ever lived, from size and diet to its awe-inspiring teeth and where to find them.
While sweeping the Atlantic Ocean floor with sonar, researchers detect something massive: a 60-foot, shark-like creature of unimaginable proportions that may be a living megalodon, long thought...
The most famous prehistoric shark, Carcharocles megalodon, nicknamed megalodon or megatooth, ruled the seas from about 17 million years ago up to almost three million years ago.
Megalodon (Otodus megalodon) is a famous fossil shark. Its huge teeth are in museums and spark wonder. It appears in books and films as the 'ultimate' predator and helps debates on shark taxonomy (Otodus vs Carcharocles), Neogene food webs, and how climate and prey changes cause top predator extinction.
The megalodon shark has intrigued scientists and the public alike with its nearly unfathomable size and power. Once ruling the ancient oceans, this prehistoric predator is often cited as the largest shark to have ever lived and even inspired a Jason Statham movie franchise.