Megalodons, the massive prehistoric sharks, are an extinct species and there is no proof that they currently exist. Their existence is supported exclusively by fossil evidence such as teeth, vertebrae, and coprolites (fossilized feces). These fossils demonstrate the presence of megalodons during specific geologic time periods, primarily the Miocene and Pliocene epochs that range from about 23 million to 2.6 million years ago.
Therefore, while their past existence is well-documented through fossil records, there is no evidence or reliable sightings indicating the continued existence of megalodons to date. Any contemporary claims for encounters with living megalodons lack credible corroboration and therefore, megalodons are considered exclusively an extinct species from long past periods of Earth's history.