Lived between 2 million and 16 million years ago Discovered by their fossilized teeth during the Renaissance Classified by a Swiss Naturalist in 1835 Teeth range from 3-7 inches in length Estimated length was 60 feet and estimated weight was 48 tons (96,000 lbs)
Ate large marine mammals and fish The Megalodon’s bite has been estimated to be 10 times more powerful than a great white Inhabited the open ocean, in mainly tropical areas Closest living relative thought to be the great white shark
Climatic upheavals Isthmus of Panama closed around 5 mya and fundamentally changed global ocean circulation Disintegration of the food chain Many species of whales and dolphins became extinct as a result of the climatic shifts Surviving species migrated to polar regions (out of Megalodon range)