Information on Megalodon Shark

Size

• The Megalodon shark is the largest shark that ever lived, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History. Megalodon sharks grew to lengths of 60 feet long. Megalodon sharks weighed approximately 77 tons. Each tooth of the Megalodon shark was six inches long and its jaws were six feet wide.

Characteristics

• Megalodon sharks had 46 front row teeth, 24 in the upper jaw and 22 in the lower jaw, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History. The majority of sharks have at least six rows of front teeth which give Megalodon sharks approximately 276 teeth.

Significance

• Scientists believe that Megalodon sharks ate approximately 2,500 pounds of fish per day, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History. Megalodon sharks ate whales and other large fish.

Fun Facts

• Ancient people collected teeth of Megalodon sharks. Megalodon sharks could swallow objects the size of a small car, according to the City of Chattanooga.

Misconceptions

• Some skeptics argue that a few Megalodon sharks are still alive, but officially the Megalodon shark is extinct. One potential siting was in the early 20th century when David Stead, an Australian naturalist, reported giant white sharks terrorizing fishermen at Port Stephens. Scientists argue that this report is not valid because most of the eye witnesses were anonymous.

  However, in 1938 a live Megalodon shark was captured which proves that a small population of Megalodon shark still survive, according to Eslamo-research.org. Less than 5 percent of the deep sea has been explored which makes this even more likely. Sharks live at depths as low as 12,000 feet below the surface.

Warning

• Humans kill approximately 100 million sharks, rays and skates every year, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History. Fishing and killing too many sharks has a major effect on fish food chains and results in overpopulation of many fish species.