The Mighty Megalodon: Giant Teeth, Ancient Seas and Deep Sea Myths

Imagine a shark so large it could bite a whale in half!? That’s not a movie monster, it was real!

Artist impression Megalodon Shark

The Megalodon, whose name literally means "big tooth," was the largest shark to ever live. Though it went extinct millions of years ago, this prehistoric predator continues to spark curiosity among fossil hunters, marine biologists and even fans of over-the-top films like The Meg. Let’s explore the truth behind the Megalodon’s size, teeth & hunting habits, and why some people still believe it’s hiding deep in the Mariana Trench.

The Megalodon ruled the oceans during the Miocene and Pliocene epochs, roughly between 23 and 3.6 million years ago. At its peak, it is believed to have reached lengths of up to 60 feet, three times the size of a great white shark! Its mouth could open wide enough to swallow two adult humans’ side by side, and its bite was one of the most powerful in the animal kingdom, capable of exerting over 40,000 pounds of force. That’s strong enough to crush the skull of a modern whale.

Great White Shark Jaw inside Megalodon Jaw

Unlike dinosaurs and mammals, sharks including the Megalodon don’t have bony skeletons. Their bodies are made almost entirely of cartilage, which is the same flexible tissue you find in your ears and nose. Cartilage is much softer and less dense than bone, so it doesn’t fossilize well. Over millions of years, it tends to rot away and vanish completely, especially under the ocean floor where conditions aren’t great for preserving soft tissue.

So, what’s left behind? Mostly teeth. Luckily, Megalodon teeth are huge, durable and made of a much harder material called dentin, that was covered in enamel. These materials fossilize really well, which is why we find so many of their teeth today, often in perfect condition.

Large Megalodon Shark Tooth

These fossilized teeth are some of the most common and recognizable prehistoric shark remains ever found. Megalodon teeth are massive, with the largest specimens measuring over seven inches long. They are broad, triangular and serrated like steak knives, perfect for slicing through thick whale flesh and bone. Unlike human teeth, which are meant to last a lifetime, all sharks including the Megalodon, shed thousands of teeth during their lives. That’s why fossil hunters continue to discover them all over the world and they are so prominent.

If you’re wondering why Megalodon teeth come in so many different sizes, there are a few simple reasons. Firstly, just like people, sharks go through different growth stages, so the teeth of younger Megalodons are naturally smaller. Secondly, not all teeth serve the same purpose. Front teeth were typically larger and broader, ideal for grabbing and tearing, while side teeth could be smaller and more angled which helped with slicing.

Tan Megalodon Tooth

Finding a real Megalodon tooth is every fossil hunter’s dream and it’s more achievable than you might think. Prime hunting grounds include parts of the United States like Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina. Venice Beach, Florida is even nicknamed the "Shark Tooth Capital of the World" due to the abundance of fossil teeth found there.

To identify a Megalodon tooth look for a large, heavy triangular shape with fine serrated edges. Most range from three to five inches long, though larger ones are rare and highly valuable. The colour of the tooth depends on the minerals present in the sediment where it fossilized, which means you can find black, grey, tan or even bluish teeth depending on the location.

Grey Megalodon Tooth

Now let’s talk about one of the most persistent and entertaining myths surrounding the Megalodon, that it’s still alive, hiding deep in the Mariana Trench?! This theory has been popularized by films like The Meg, where an ancient Megalodon escapes from the ocean’s deepest crevice and wreaks havoc on modern society (of course it does). While it makes for a thrilling movie plot, there's absolutely no scientific evidence to support this idea. The real Megalodon needed warm, coastal waters to survive whereas the freezing, high-pressure environment of the Mariana Trench is one it couldn’t have tolerated. More importantly if a 60-foot shark were cruising around today, we’d surely have seen signs?! Fresh bite marks on whales, sonar blips, sightings by deep-sea submersible or modern teeth (not just fossils). But none of that exists.

Large partial black Megalodon Tooth

Still, myths like this persist and it’s easy to see why. The ocean is vast, mysterious and mostly unexplored. The idea that something so powerful and ancient might still be lurking in its darkest corners is irresistible. But until solid evidence surfaces, we’ll have to accept that the Megalodon is a fascinating part of Earth’s history and not its present.

The Megalodon may be gone but its legend lives on through its teeth and the stories we imagine about it. Whether you’re a science enthusiast, a fossil collector or just a fan of giant sea monsters, there’s something undeniably captivating about this ancient apex predator! So next time you're walking along a beach or watching a shark movie, remember, the Megalodon was real and it was the true king of the sea.