Description
Large Fossilised Megalodon Tooth, size; 10.9cm
Although incomplete this is good example of a large fossilised Megalodon tooth. It is two thirds complete and is in excellent condition for a fossil that is between 5 and 20 millions of years old, from the Miocene/Pliocene period.
Megalodon sharks have been extinct for over 3 million years. The actual name ‘Megalodon’ fittingly means ‘Big Tooth’. The megalodon shark was a species that preferred warmer water, with the juveniles spent most of their time in shallower coastal areas. Current theories suggests that cooling sea temperatures, brought about by the ice-ages, combined with the lack of prey led to their eventual decline and extinction. Megalodon Sharks were one of the largest and powerful predators that have swam in our oceans. The largest megalodon sharks would have grown up to 15-18 metres long with jaws 3 metres wide. Because sharks don’t have bones, only cartilage, it is generally only fossilised teeth that are found. The teeth of the megalogon shark are exceptionally robust. These teeth were perfect for grabbing prey and also cutting through and breaking bone.
The Great White Sharks that are alive today grow to only a third of the size of the megalodon shark. There is still an ongoing debate as to whether the great white shark have evolved directly or indirectly from the megalodon shark.
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