The Megalodon

Mackenzie McDaniel

Mr. Bosstick

English 212

13 March 2023

The Megalodon

**Summary**- The Megalodon is an extinct humongous shark that lived when dinosaurs were around. Or so that's what marine biologists thought. The earliest fossils found from the Megalodon are dated back to 20 million years ago. This shark dominated the oceans before it went "extinct". The Megalodon preferred warm tropical locations around the globe. Megalodon teeth have been found on every continent except Antarctica. They are also commonly known to live off the coast of Morocco and parts of Australia. It is estimated that Megalodons were 15-18 meters long, which is a comparison to the Whale Shark. As more fossils have been found, scientists have realized that the ancestor to the great white shark lived alongside the “Meg”. It is also speculated that they were in competition with each other. Some think that the Megalodon didn’t go extinct. There have been sightings around the world recently. The latest sighting was off the coast of New England and there have been some other sightings in the Atlantic ocean too.

**History**- The Megalodon dates back to the prehistoric era. The most likely reason we find Megalodon fossils all around the world is because way back when, large seaways separated North America from South America, and Asia from Africa and the Middle East. With a of these huge water ways, the Megalodon moved around the world with ease. With it’s torpedo shaped body, it had an immense amount of speed to swim. Not only is the Megalodon the world’s largest fish, the Megalodon may have also been the largest marine predator that ever lived. The Megalodon was at the top of all charts: apex predator, carnivore, etc. With the Megalodon being the top predator, eating whales, dolphins, and other sharks, their supply of prey began to dwindle. There was also an increase of Killer Whales and Great White sharks. Their declining food supply and the growth of competitor marine life is thought to collectively be the demise of the Megalodon.

**Specific encounters:** Scientists have said the Megalodon is extinct, but other people think differently. There have been a few sightings in the past few years of a humongous shark prowling the oceans thought to be the Megalodon. Some sightings include the Atlantic Ocean, the coast of New England, and the coast of Australia. In Australia, a sighting was documented in 1918. Fisherman attested to a massive shark demolishing and destroying gear and crawfish pots. The fishermen all reported similar things: ghostly white shark at around 115 feet long (from what they could see standing on a wharf). This sighting scared the fishermen so much; they all refused to work or go out into the ocean at all. There have also been a couple of movies and documentaries made about the Megalodon. Some movies include SYFY’s Megashark vs. series, Battlefield, and The Meg. There are also multiple YouTube videos on sightings, conspiracy theories, and photographs.

**Adaptations-** Some adaptations of the Megalodon stem from real western science. Some believe that there are parts and portions of the earth that are unaffected by humans. Possibly large enough to support the Megalodon. The Megalodon is also thought to be considered “The God of the Deep”. Some older middle eastern cultures, like the Mayans, used Megalodon teeth as tools and believed they were gifted by the sea. Another adaptation is from English scholars, they believed that megalodon teeth may have been the subject of the first known representation of any fossil. They called their teeth “The Tongue Stone” or “St. Paul’s Tongue.” It was used as a charm to ward off the evil eye in the 16th-18th century by dipping the tooth into drinks that are suspected to be poisoned and were crushed into a powder for medicinal use. There are also many video games, movies, and articles about the Megalodon and its scary history.

**Analysis-** My analysis of the Megalodon’s adaptations would be that I can understand why these ancient civilizations and older cultures believed what they believed about the Meg. Since the Megalodon was a real animal, I think it’s even scarier. The thought of the Megalodon roaming around the ocean, even way back in the prehistoric times, creeps me out. Knowing that a monster-like shark was alive, and people have been sighting humongous sharks in the ocean makes me not want to go to the beach. Having something to believe in, like the Mayan’s did, to make you healthy and heal wounds is profound to their culture, even if it actually doesn’t do anything. Maybe the Megalodon isn’t extinct, maybe it is alive and surviving in somewhere deep in the ocean. More than 80% of the ocean has never been explored or even seen by humans. Or perhaps the Megalodon adapted and evolved to live under different conditions due to its endangerment. The Mariana Trench would be a great example of a possible habitat for the Megalodon if it adapted. Scientists have said there are no more Megalodons today in existence, but they haven’t even looked everywhere for it. So honestly, who are they to tell us anything on the Megalodons presence.

References:

Cost, Ben. “Massive 50-Foot 'Megalodon' Detected in Atlantic Ocean Stuns Scientists.” *New York Post*, New York Post, 8 Sept. 2022, https://nypost.com/2022/09/07/50-foot-megalodon-detected-in-atlantic-ocean-stuns-scientists/.

Davis, Josh. “Megalodon: The Truth about the Largest Shark That Ever Lived.” *Megalodon: the Truth about the Largest Shark That Ever Lived*, Natural History Museum, https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/megalodon--the-truth-about-the-largest-shark-that-ever-lived.html.

E.D.G.E. *YouTube*, YouTube, 26 Aug. 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhPi3xIu\_lk. Accessed 13 Mar. 2023.

Naish, Darren. “Tales from the Cryptozoologicon: Megalodon!” *Scientific American Blog Network*, Scientific American, 5 Aug. 2013, https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/tetrapod-zoology/cryptozoologicon-megalodon-teaser/.

Rafferty, John P. “Extinction.” *Encyclopædia Britannica*, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/animal/megalodon/Extinction.