Conspiracy theorists believe the megalodon has managed to successfully avoid detection for millions of years. Its a question that many people ask themselves. No, it specialized in hunting whales which go up to the surface to breath air. Throughout the years, many documentaries were made, however, most of them are based on false assumptions, with fake stories, videos, and pictures. mskcc human resources email. 8 miles) below the ocean's surface. Information we have regarding the megalodon habitat has to do with where we find its teeth. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Though there is not much information surrounding this particular fossil right now, scientists say that it could help us craft a better idea of what these massive sharks looked like. hi megalodon are the best animal in the world. Getting bitten by this beast would feel like being crushed by three African elephants stacked on top of each other. For other inquiries, Contact Us. The Megalodon (Otodus megalodon), is an extinct species of shark, arguably one of the largest, if not the largest marine predator that has ever lived. I suppose it will take a dead Megalodon being found somewhere to prove it or, unfortunately, someone not just sighting the huge shark but also managing to catch and kill it. To find anything close to a prey item for a 60-foot Megalodon we need to come up to around 8,000 feet, which is the deepest whales are known to dive. In all likeliness, we'll eventually discover something just as incredible as the largest shark in existence. Fossil remains also tell us that the megalodon had around276 teeth. "We propose that this short overlap (3.6-4 million years ago) was sufficient time for great white sharks to spread worldwide and outcompeteO. megalodonthroughout its range, driving it to extinction-rather than radiation from outer space,"saysBoessenecker. What do you say we try to survive on an Earth document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Making science accessible on social media since 2017. Estimates suggest megalodon actually grew to between 15 . View our online Press Pack. Megalodon? Researchers compare the sparse fossil remains, which consist only of teeth and vertebrae, with living animals such as the great white shark to estimate the length of megalodon. Answer: Megalodon was the largest shark that ever lived, but it probably wasnt bigger than a blue whale. The Megalodon shark has first shown up around 23 million years ago and ruled the oceans till 3.6 million ago when it finally disappeared. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. Scientists believe that the megalodon's oldest ancestor was the Otodus Obliquus, which lived in the deep ocean more than 55 million years ago. In fact at one time giant squads we're myth and orangutans were the same as Bigfoot or the yeti. Unlikely. These massive sharks would be leaving telltale bite marks on large marine animals, of which no reports have been made. The first manned exploration occurred in 1960 when the bathyscaphe "Trieste" descended into the Western Pacific Ocean with two people, Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh, to 35,797 feet . Given that it was a massive shark with noticeable feeding. I believe that it had innate intelligence to avoid man. Not only was the megalodon shark the largest shark to ever exist, but it was also the largest fish in existence. Despite what you may have heard on the Discovery Channel back in the day, true ocean experts say that there is no way the megalodon still exists in the deep oceans. Based on what we know about this megatooth shark, scientists estimate that their jaws could open anywhere from 2.7 to 3.4 meters wide. Could this be the last remaining Megalodon? So if our megalodon was close to its pre-historic size, it would probably be a few thousand years old. Is there a megalodon alive today? Thought to have died out 65m years ago, two species of the 350m-year-old fish were discovered living in deep sea canyons off the African coast. When a species dives really deep into the ocean there is small amounts of oxygen now this might sound a little strange but the closer to the surface they are the more they will eat because oxygen levels are higher than that of deeper depths. Megalodon's maximum size is inferred because we do not actually have a whole preserved Megalodon. Far to the east, the new ocean floor is created by volcanic activity. The killer predator was three times longer and 40 times heavier than the largest ever recorded great white shark. On the other hand, scientists shouldn't brush off reported sightings of Megalodon, especially when some of those come from experienced fishermen and seamen who know what all of those things look like. 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. What Was the Reason for the Megalodon Death? Even if it could survive those pressures, there wouldn't be anything for it to eat due to the animals down there being small. You put out some pretty convincing arguments about it being possible Megalodon still exists. 99% of the ocean floor has yet to be discovered so if you want to get cocky and be scientific by saying they are extinct then you have to leave room for the possibility that its possible they may still exist. Megalodon ( Carcharocles megalodon) is the largest shark, at a magnificent maximum length of 18 meters (59 feet), to ever have dwelled in the oceans. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. But the Mariana Trench is a mysterious, cold and unforgiving world steeped in total darkness. Very intelligently written and well organized. People have found a tooth the size of a palm in the mariana trench area. ", Rchick added: "Scientists and researchers dont know anything for sure. What If Megalodon Sharks Never Went Extinct? However, we now know they weren't related. Megalodon: Huge shark spotted swimming beneath boat, A huge megalodon shark swims after a pod of striped dolphins (artist's impression), Enormous 1,000lbs shark which is 12ft in length spotted swimming off shores, Shark circling Mallorca beach panics swimmers as lifeguards issue urgent warning. But there are a few enormous teeth that are over 7.- The Mariana Trench is 6.83 miles deep and measures more than 1,500 miles long and 43 miles wide. The odds of Earth being the only planet in the whole universe are abysmal. What if Megalodon was still alive? A giant shark caught on camera scouring the bottom of the Mariana Trench has sparked debate about if megalodons still exist. italian athletics championships; 2nd biggest wetherspoons in uk. At one time many parts of the world thought the world was flat so you can see that now we look back and laugh. The largest predator that has ever lived inspired a lot of books, documentaries, and movies and intrigued the imagination of many people. Many people now believe that megalodon is still alive because of the fictional documentaries. Humans have only traveled to the bottom of Challenger Deep twice. No scientific evidence, today, supports such statements. It's definitely not alive in the deep oceans, despite what the Discovery Channel has said in the past," notes Emma. A GIANT 100-ton prehistoric shark which ate everything it its path is still lurking in the Earth's deepest oceans - say internet conspiracy theorists. Taking a fresh look at the fossil record, researchers are now proposing that this mega marine creature may have been killed off by none other than the modern great white shark ( Carcharodon carcharias ). Best guesses put the largest specimens at about 60 feet, with the typical individual at around 40 feet, or about the size of a whale shark. Another reason megalodon fossils don't contain skeletons is that shark skeletons are made of cartilage, which is the same material found in our ears and nose. This was especially true for the megalodon, who depended on tropical and sub-tropical waters for life. As scientists study the fossil record more and more, it is becoming quite obvious that megalodons lived alongside great whites. if they needed at least one whale a day to survive without starving then if they went into the trench then there oxygen levels drop causing them to have to eat a lot less allowing them to eat small amounts of food and surviving. In fact, if it were still alive in the deepest point of the ocean, the Mariana trench, we would know about it at this point. Its skin could evolve to enable more tactile ways of feeling its way around. The issue with that theory is the Pacific Sleeper Shark grow only to 20 feet, the shark featured is 50+ feet long. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. A giant shark caught on camera scouring the bottom of the Mariana Trench has sparked debate about if megalodons still exist. However, there are plenty who clearly believe the ferocious beast IS still alive today and lurking in the depths of the world's seas. However, Emma Bernard, who curates the Natural History Museum'sfossil fish collection, says there is absolutely no evidence the behemoths are still around today. With that logic, doesn't it merit the possibility that something that "did" exist previously still can? Some say megalodon, if it is still around, likely lives in very deep water such as the Mariana Trench. Human bones and bones of other large marine animals are typically made of mineral calcium phosphate, which hardens and is fossilized much easier. What If is presented by Underknown, a production company creating a variety of short-doc series that search for the underlying truth of how our world operates and how it came to be. I wouldn't be surprised if there are megs outs there. All deep-sea creatures also have molecules called piezolytes. But we must not shrug off the fact that we still do not know a majority of our deep sea including the trench. Same goes for the Ocean. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. That said, I think a lot of the reports of Megalodon are really just that - the people saw them. Humans have a bite force of around 1,317 Newtons (N) while great white sharks have a force of 18,216N. One wrote: I think they went deeper into the seas like the giant squid which is why we never see them. People who readily assume megalodon exists today probably also believe in extraterrestrials and biblical miracles. So it is a possibility but highly unlikely. But this diet plan would not work for this ancient, warm-water-dwelling apex predator. I cannot wait for the day when there is scientific proof there is a HUGE shark out there! Scroll down for the quiz! As for where ol' Meg lives perhaps he just roams the seas like a great white. A new study has once again confirmed that this is not the case. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Could the Megalodon Still Be Alive in the Mariana Trench? Living fossils, or species that were known solely through fossil record only to be later discovered alive, include most famously the bizarre coelacanth fish. Bad Brad*9 wrote: "Our oceans are huge and there are vast areas that are still unexplored. The timing is everything. Come dive in with us as we explore everything you need to know about the all-powerful megalodon. So, there seems to be nothing preventing a Megalodon from living in the dark of the ocean, should it have reason to do so. The megalodon went extinct near the Pliocene era's end, when planet Earth went through a phase of cooling. Around 3.5 million years ago, Megalodon was gone. ould Megalodon sharks still be alive in the deepest parts of the ocean? This makes the ocean floor in the Mariana Trench the oldest in the world, dating back around 180 million years. I don't think this shark is still out there because there is no real evidence that this big shark is still out there. Probably not. And experts say there has been no reports of any whales which have been attacked by a predator large enough to be a megalodon. ive wanted to be a marine biologist for many years. 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No large fish has even been found at these extreme depths. 3838 Camino Del Rio N #102 San Diego, CA 92108. Also, the Mariana Trench has extreme pressures of roughly 16,000 psi which would crush the Megalodon. To maintain its body temperature, our megalodon would have to be warm-blooded. Another image is said to show a giant shark which has apparently been captured on Google Earth. Our shows take you to the frontiers of science and make the most complex ideas and theories entertaining and accessible. I appreciate your thoughtful comments! When the Earth cooled, the megalodon was forced out of its comfortable tropical and sub-tropical regions and into cooler waters where it could not continue surviving. From single celled organisms to sea creatures and more. It is not united anymore, but divided into several independent nations. Reliable witnesses have reporting seeing other cryptids and it has later been proven to be a mistaken identity or wishful thinking. When competition gets really fierce, the fight for survival turns into a zero sum game, and as the availableprey began to dwindle in number, the great white appears to have come out on top. What If Earth Reached Boiling Point for 5 Seconds? When people first encountered Megalodon teeth, they believed them to be rocks that had made their way to Earth from the moon.- Megalodon was the biggest shark to terrorize the ocean, and it is thought to have gone extinct 2.6 million years ago. The Mariana Trench is about as remote as it gets, and even a massive shark would be very hard to find. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. the megalodon shark can still live in the depths. Even a tooth lodged in a whale or something would prove Megalodon is still around, but until we see such a thing the alleged sightings are nothing but compelling stories. To put the depth into perspective, if you were to put Mount Everest into the Mariana Trench, the top would still be sticking out. Great white sharks are frequent visitors to the Sea of Cortez as well, and some have been known to dive to surprising depths. The Portuguese Dogfish is a species of Sleeper Shark known to survive at depths of up to 12,000 feet. This fact alone is enough for most researchers to conclude that Megalodon is extinct. Studies reconstructing the shark's bite force suggest it may have been one of the most powerful predators ever to have lived. The megalodon would swim to the upper reaches of the ocean and feed at night. This made megalodon around the same size as the biggest whales of its day, but much smaller than a modern blue whale, which can reach 100 feet. 3 things that can happen 1 it dies from starvation 2 it dies from the pressure 3 it dies from the cold there's literally no fucking way for the meg to live in the mariana trench 2 3 Quora User Morgan Stanley Alum & Chief Financial Officer at Masterworks Updated Feb 8 Promoted What if there is an unknown massive superpredator that evolved to live in deep waters that can support the population of Megalodons? This mass extinction was due to food chain disruption, which negatively impacted apex predators more than anything. this is my favorite prehistoric creature and i will keep doing research. This is the world 200 million years ago. Megalodon Still Exists, Researchers Claim. What If Oxygen Doubled in Earths Atmosphere? Therefore, when the environmental changes occurred that led to the extinction of the Megalodon Shark, the population that lived at great depths continued to thrive while the sharks who lived in shallower water died off. A Sperm Whale would surely make a meal for a Megalodon. Its appearance and the maximum size are debatable, and the assumptions we have today are based on the size of its teeth. After 3 hours, the probe finally came free and rose to the surface. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Similar to the great white, however, the Otodus megalodon had ultra-long pectoral fins to support its massive size. Most likely not. Youre in the deepest part of our oceans. Eyewitness accounts are, unfortunately, biased by the knowledge and experience of the witness. So we are finding new animals all the time. I like to think fishermen know the difference between a whale shark and something else, but you never know what they really saw. Weighing the same as five busses, the killer predator was three times longer and 40 times heavier than the largest ever recorded great white shark. 'If an animal as big as megalodon still lived in the oceans we would know about it. Sign up to FREE email alerts with news to brighten your day. It is a forbidding landscape, and not very hospitable to a predatory shark. Could this remnant population of Megalodon Shark still thrive today, far out of sight of humans? In the waters, if an animal as large as the megalodon was still alive, we would have heard about it. I think it is possible but highly unlikely that they are out there somewhere in the deep. For one, no shark has ever been recorded living down there, let alone one as big as a Megalodon. In 1976, a massive new species was accidentally captured after trying to swallow a ships anchor off the coast of Hawaii. 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Instead, he suggests the authors may have overlooked other culprits, like the modern tiger shark, which also shared similar territory to the juvenile megalodon. What if it adapted to this hostile environment, waiting for you to come by for its dinner? I hope they still live because it would be extraordinary to see or find one. The earliest version of this video we . Well, its teeth and bones might not be in great shape. It's estimated the megalodon's jaw would span 2.7 by 3.4 metres wide, easily big enough to swallow two adults side-by-side. Even the great white shark has been recorded diving to depths of 4,000 feet. i think the Megalodon is alive and if it did live in the trench the metabolism from the lack of oxygen. The earliest fossils of megalodon date back more than 23 million years, making it very unlikely that the species is still alive today. And with only 15% of our oceans explored, whos to say no ancient predators are hiding somewhere deep underwater? The coelecanth was supposed to have gone extinct millions of years ago, but they live still. It is said to have been 40 times heavier and three times longer than the largest ever great white shark. Plus, why wouldn't they just migrate to where whales and large food items live? I don't know how people think the megalodon lives in the trench why would an gigantic shark wanna live in the trench away from all the whales and large food sources and I don't even think it could have adapted to the conditions there as well and sadly it probably died out. cryptid (author) from USA on September 14, 2014: Thanks for the kind words, Natalie. The Mariana Trench is located in the Pacific Ocean and is the deepest known part of the world's oceans, stretching more than 11 kilometers (6. I think the Megalodon The shark is in the marian trench. With sharks constantly losing teeth to the murky depths, it is no wonder collectors are so easily able to find fossilized teeth on the ocean floor! It is very unlikely that Megalodon still exists. Surf Researcher is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk & Amazon.ca. What If We Turned Earth Into a Spaceship? The cooling of the planet may have contributed to its supposed demise in a number of different ways. Take a self-e. This is partly due to some famous novels written on the subject, but the logic here sort of makes sense. Ultimately, it's up to you to decide what you think is possible. But is it possible that Megalodon is still alive? Firstly, the trench is too deep for the animal to survive in. It is possible that megalodon is still alive, looking at it from a biblical point of view, because of the flood any prehistoric sea creatures to still be alive. Then return to the deep during the day. Here we see a few ways the megamouth shark can help to bolster this idea. He has said that unusually large and unidentified sharks are still being reported. The clearly huge creature is recorded as it swims over the top of what is purported to be an abandoned shark cage. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'animalstart_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_10',118,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-animalstart_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'animalstart_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_11',118,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-animalstart_com-large-leaderboard-2-0_1');.large-leaderboard-2-multi-118{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. What if the megalodon was alive today? This fact alone is enough for most researchers to conclude that Megalodon is extinct. The temperature hovers around 2 C (35.6 F) all year round. Unlike humans, who only produce teeth during the early stages of life, sharks continue to produce new sets throughout their entire lives, losing their teeth almost every two weeks . One unique thing about sharks is that they continue producing teeth throughout their lives. 1. ould Megalodon sharks still be alive in the deepest parts of the ocean? And inward-facing teeth could prevent slimy prey from escaping. An expandable stomach could help it store food. Nothing is impossible. It was also likely that it ate other sharks. Given that it was a massive shar. "The extinction of O. megalodon was previously thought to be related to this marine mass extinction - but in reality, we now know the two are not immediately related,"explainslead author Robert Boessenecker, a vertebrate paleontologist at the College of Charleston in South Carolina.