Megalodon Size and Extinction Quiz

Megalodon Size and Extinction

• Megalodon (Carcharocles megalodon) was a large extinct species of shark, significantly larger than any modern shark species.
• Fossils indicate its immense size, but no living megalodon are known to exist today
• Fossil evidence suggests megalodon could reach lengths of 15 to 20 meters (50-65 feet) or possibly even larger
• Comparing this size to Mount Everest (approximately 8,848.86 meters/29,031.7 feet in height) is demonstrably inaccurate, as size is an entirely different dimensional parameter.
• Mount Everest's size refers to its height above sea level, while megalodon's size refers to the length of its body.
• The vast difference in nature of the two entities, i.e., mountain and marine animal, renders the comparison absurd.
• Megalodon went extinct millions of years ago.
• No modern shark species possesses the size and dimensions attributed to megalodon in the fossil record.

Megalodon Extinction

• Megalodon extinction likely occurred during the Pliocene epoch (approximately 3.6 to 2.6 million years ago)
• Various hypotheses exist regarding the causes, including:
  • Changes in ocean currents
  • Competition with other predators
  • Shifts in prey availability
  • Climate change
• The exact cause(s) remain a subject of ongoing scientific research and discussion.
• No credible evidence exists to support the presence of modern megalodons.