The megalodon (Otodus megalodon) is an extinct species of mackerel shark that lived approximately 23 to 2.6 million years ago (Mya), during the Miocene and Pliocene epochs. It is among the largest sharks, as well as one of the largest fish that ever lived. Although no complete megalodon skeletons have been found, it is estimated to have reached a maximum length of 15.9–18 m (52–59 ft), though smaller individuals were more common. The megalodon had a cosmopolitan distribution and was present in all the world's oceans.
Due to a dearth of fossil material and the relatively poor preservation of cartilage in the fossil record, many aspects of the megalodon's biology remain uncertain, including the exact size of the species and its diet. It is nevertheless possible to determine the bite force of the megalodon with reasonable accuracy.
Various studies using different models and methods have yielded bite force estimates ranging from 10.8 to 13.1 tons (100,000–120,000 newtons).
These estimates are significantly greater than those calculated for the jaws of other sharks and even the great white shark, which has a bite force of approximately 1.8 tons (16,000 N). The megalodon's bite force has likely led to its extinction as it would have required an enormous amount of food to sustain such massive size and energy consumption, and changes in the global climate and food sources may have contributed to its demise.
The megalodon's bite force is a testament to its status as one of the apex predators that ever roamed the oceans, surpassing even Tyrannosaurus rex in the strength and power of its jaws.