Description
The megalodon (C. megalodon, Greek: mega(lo-) = large, odon = tooth, or great tooth) is an extinct species of shark that could reach enormous sizes. The megalodon appeared around 18 million years ago (in the Miocene) and became extinct around 1.5 million years ago. It dominated the temperate seas of the world with virtually no predators; it could reach a length of 18 meters. It is closely related to the modern great white shark. Megalodon could open its mouth up to 2 meters. Megaselachus megalodon is a synonym of Carcharodon megalodon or Carcharocles megalodon. Fossil teeth of megalodon are still regularly found today; the rest of the cartilaginous skeleton has usually decayed. Its relatively large teeth are very distinctive (pyramidal).
