Butcher

Super Size Me

This beast had no equal in the ocean and surely no...

Megalodon was the largest shark the globe has ever noticed. Initially researchers estimated this beast to be 80 to one hundred feet in length. Far more recent estimates are in the 40 to 50 feet range and weighing up to 48 tons. This makes Megalodon one of the largest predators ever. In fact only the sperm whale is bigger! It would take seven African elephants at seven tons each and every to equal the weight of this extinct shark.

Super Size Me

This beast had no equal in the ocean and surely absolutely nothing preyed upon it. Offering nourishment for 48 tons of raw powered muscle is no slight process. They most likely dined on whales. official link

The Era of Megalodon

Megalodon was a giant shark that lived for the duration of the Miocene and Pliocene epics of the Cenozoic Era, amongst 2 million and 16 million years ago. Little is recognized for certain about these giant predators mainly because all that remains of their existence are fossilized teeth. But what teeth they are! They range in size from 3 inches lengthy to 7 inches lengthy. Huge items that are larger than a mans hand. It sets the imagination reeling. To place this in viewpoint a significant remarkable white shark measures about 20 feet lengthy and weighs a little over two tons. A tooth from a shark like this is about 1.5 inches extended.

Megalodon Teeth

Megalodon teeth are exceptionally much like a super-sized version of the white shark. There are some differences. The most notable of these is the darker chevron shaped region amongst the root and the blade of the tooth. This location is referred to as the bourlette. Other variations are the serrations at the edge of the tooth. These are finer than in the white shark and more frequent.

No Bones About It

The fossilized teeth are all that remains of this monster since sharks do not have bones. Their skeleton is produced up of cartilage. This is what your ears and nose are made from. Cartilage does not fossilize nicely.

The Family Tree

The white shark is the closest living relative to the megalodon. This is nicely accepted but sets the stage for controversy.

The debate is more than the connection amongst the white shark and the megalodon. The scientific name is Carcharocles Megalodon. This is not universally accepted. The point of contention has to do with megalodons family members tree and regardless of whether it was a direct ancestor of the white shark or a very good uncle on a several branch of the tree. Proponents of direct lineage want the name Carcharodon (same genus as the white shark). Others think that even though there are similarities, the differences recommend separate lines and so separate names.