Megalodon was a giant shark that lived millions of years ago. It was one of the largest predators to ever swim in the oceans, growing up to 60 feet long. These sharks lived during the Miocene to Pliocene epochs, which was about 23 to 3.6 million years ago.
Megalodon had a powerful bite force, possibly the strongest of any animal, allowing it to crush large prey such as whales with its massive teeth. Speaking of teeth, megalodon teeth are often found fossilized, and they can be over 7 inches long! Despite its size and strength, megalodon went extinct around 3.6 million years ago, possibly due to changes in the environment and competition with other predators. Scientists are still studying why such a formidable predator disappeared.
Megalodon Sharks of the World