Megalodon

Megalodon was an extinct giant shark, usually identified as *Otodus megalodon*, and is regarded as one of the largest sharks and fish ever to have lived.

Megalodon was an extinct giant shark, usually identified as *Otodus megalodon*, and is regarded as one of the largest sharks and fish ever to have lived. Fossils show it lived roughly from 23 million to 3.6 million years ago and is no longer alive today. In Canada, megalodon is a widely recognized prehistoric animal featured in science education and museum coverage.

Taxonomy and fossils

Megalodon is generally treated as *Otodus megalodon*, an extinct megatooth shark known mainly from teeth and some vertebral fossils. The lack of a complete skeleton is the main reason its exact size and appearance remain debated.

Size and body length

Published estimates for adult megalodon length vary widely. The average adult length is commonly estimated at about 13–14 m (43–46 ft). A 2025 study suggested a maximum length of 24.3 m (about 80 ft). Older and more conservative estimates are lower, contributing to disagreement on the upper end of its size.

Extinction and timeline

Megalodon lived from the Miocene through the Pliocene epochs. Scientists generally agree it went extinct by the end of the Pliocene or early Pleistocene, but precise dates vary. Different sources place the extinction at roughly 3.6, 2.6, or 2.5 million years ago, reflecting different datasets and interpretations. No confirmed evidence indicates that megalodon survives today.

Diet and ecology

Evidence indicates megalodon was an apex predator that preyed on large marine animals, especially whales and other marine mammals. Its huge teeth and body size are consistent with a predator adapted for taking large prey.