Megalodon: A giant transoceanic predator that lived 23 million to 2.6 million years ago

Source: The post is based on the article “Megalodon: A giant transoceanic predator that lived 23 million to 2.6 million years ago” published in Indian Express on 19th August 2022.

What is the News?

Researchers have found new evidence about the life of one of the biggest predatory animals of all time — the Megalodon.

What is Megalodon?

Megalodon meaning “big tooth”, is an extinct species of mackerel shark that lived approximately 23 to 3.6 million years ago, from the Early Miocene to the Pliocene epochs.

What are the key features of the Megalodon Shark found by the researchers?

From its nose to tail, the megalodon was 50 feet long and was thus longer than a bus. Its size, therefore, was two to three times that of today’s great white shark.

It was a fast swimmer, with its average cruising speed being more than that of sharks today. Due to this feature, it could have migrated across oceans with ease.

The megalodon had a weight of around 70 tons, or, in other words, a single adult member of this shark species was as heavy as 10 elephants together. Also, each of its teeth was as big as a human fist.

It could open its jaw to almost 6 feet wide, and therefore, feed on other big creatures. With a full stomach, it could roam the oceans for months at a time.