Why did The Megalodon shark go extinct?... Or did it?

Answer 1

The Megalodon, a giant shark essentially very similar to the modern Great White Shark, but up to 16 m long, was a major predator in the warm, tropical seas between about 25 million years ago and 2 million years ago.

In near shore, continental shelf deposits of those ages, the teeth of Megalodon are relatively common. After 2 million years ago though, they pretty much vanish. There are a few isolated teeth that appear to be much younger, but they may have been reworked (eroded out of older sediments, and re-deposited as fossils in younger sediments). The fact that their fossils almost completely disappear and the fact that no one has reliably seen or captured one is a fairly good indication that they are indeed extinct.

As to why it went extinct, there are several hypotheses, but little hard evidence. One idea is that Megalodon was primarily a predator on whales, and with the increasing frequency and extent of ice ages in the Pleistocene, the colder polar seas that the whales could move into provided a major barrier to the cold-blooded shark, and without this food source they went extinct. Another, related theory is that shallow, warm coastal areas with stable and constant whale populations became less common as whales became migratory during glaciations.

There is also the evolution of the Orca, or killer whale, about 5 million years ago, that may have provided a major source of competition to the Megalodon. The intelligent, pack-hunting orca may have been much more successful whale hunters than the shark, and driven them out of the evolutionary race. The orca may have even fed on the Megalodon, or killed them to protect their young.

It's probably a combination of several major factors; loss of habitat, changes in climate, increased competition, predation from new predators, decreased amounts of safe pupping grounds, etc. that eventually did the Megalodon in.

Answer 2

Are Megalodon Sharks Extinct

Answer 3

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Why did The Megalodon shark go extinct?... Or did it?

Answer 4

the prey it once ate disappeared so it died out to.i like to think there are a couple out there but that would mean they found something else to eat but what.the only thing big enough for it to eat is probably a killer whale or a whale shark or something and marinebiologists or somebody would have noticed by now.

Answer 5

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