The Extinction of Megalodon Shark Megalodon sharks were apex predators of the sea that went extinct about 3.6 million years ago. Being eighteen meters long, they were the largest sharks that ever lived. The name Megalodon simply means “large tooth.” The Megalodon shark tooth was as large as 7 inches. During the middle ages Europeans, it was worn as a pendant and used in medicine. The Native Americans too used Megadolon shark teeth as pendants and tools. If you’re curious to know more about Megalodon sharks, here are some facts on their origin and why they went extinct: The Origins of Megalodon Shark With their giant body and sharp teeth which could be over 7 inches, Megalodon sharks are one of the most fearsome sharks of prehistoric times. It is considered that the Megalodon shark lineage goes back to Otodus obliquus belonging to the Pliocene era. With time the Megalodon shark tooth went through changes. They became larger and broader. The blades of the teeth also became more serrated and lost the side cusps. Why did the Megalodon Shark face extinction? The extinction of Megalodon sharks is said to be linked to a cool trend in ocean temperatures. They also could have faced competition from the newly evolved Great White sharks which caused their extinction. The end of the Pliocene saw a mass extinction we don’t know much about. It wiped out many species of sea turtles, sea birds, and sharks including the Megalodon. As many whales became extinct, this could have led to scarcity in food sources for the Megalodon. The disruptions in the ocean also caused evolutionary changes in the surviving whales. They began migrating to arctic regions in search of food. The Megadolon sharks were warm-water sharks and couldn’t follow them to cold arctic waters. Without this food source, they starved.
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