What Is a Megalodon? Facts About One of the Biggest Sharks in History

What is a megalodon and was it ever real? While the fossil record confirms its existence and that it died out ages ago - plenty of burning questions remain about them.

By Katie Liu
Jan 16, 2024 7:00 PM
Megalodon scene 3D illustration
(Credit: Warpaint/Shutterstock)

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
 

The mighty megalodon keeps its crown as one of the largest sharks to have ever lived. It was an apex predator of prehistory, reigning the seas and raining teeth on ocean floors, until its ultimate extinction around a couple million years ago.

Despite having died out far before any of our lifetimes, megalodons manage to live on, swimming and zipping through the depths of our fantastical imaginations. Here’s what to know about this ancient superpredator, who dwarfs today’s great whites and killer whales.

Megalodon Facts: What Is a Megalodon?

(Credit: Baris-Ozer/Shutterstock)

The megalodon, an ancient and colossal shark species, has long been a subject of fascination in both scientific research and popular culture. You might imagine a megalodon, one of the largest sharks ever to exist, to look like the gigantic version of a great white shark, but the two species actually descend from different lineages – megalodons being the last of the now extinct lineage of megatooth sharks. 

0 free articles left
Want More? Get unlimited access for as low as $1.99/month

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

0 free articlesSubscribe
Discover Magazine Logo
Want more?

Keep reading for as low as $1.99!

Subscribe

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

Stay Curious

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and unlock one more article for free.

 

View our Privacy Policy


Want more?
Keep reading for as low as $1.99!


Log In or Register

Already a subscriber?
Find my Subscription

More From Discover
Recommendations From Our Store
Shop Now
Stay Curious
Join
Our List

Sign up for our weekly science updates.

 
Subscribe
To The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Copyright © 2024 Kalmbach Media Co.