Lived between 2 million and 16 million years ago

Discovered by their fossilized teeth during the Renaissance

Classified by a Swiss Naturalist in 1835 Teeth range from 3-7 inches in length Estimated length was 60 feet and

estimated weight was 48 tons (96,000 lbs)

Ate large marine mammals and fish The Megalodon’s bite has been estimated to

be 10 times more powerful than a great white Inhabited the open ocean, in mainly tropical

areas

Closest living relative thought to be the great white shark

Climatic upheavals Isthmus of Panama

closed around 5 mya and fundamentally changed global ocean circulation

Disintegration of the food chain Many species of whales and dolphins became

extinct as a result of the climatic shifts Surviving species migrated to polar regions (out

of Megalodon range)