Megalodon was indeed the real-life sea monster of the ancient oceans, and its existence is a stunning scientific reality, not a myth. Carcharocles megalodon was the largest shark to have ever lived, and its sheer size and power dwarfed the great white shark, which is often considered the ocean’s most fearsome predator today. This colossal beast, which lived from about 23 to 3.6 million years ago, was at the very top of the food chain, preying on whales, dolphins, and other large marine animals.

The most compelling evidence of Megalodon’s existence comes from its fossilized teeth, which are found all over the world. These teeth are a stark and chilling testament to the shark’s incredible size; they can measure over 7 inches long, more than three times the length of a great white shark’s tooth. Based on the size of these teeth, scientists estimate that Megalodon could have grown to a staggering 60 feet in length and weighed over 50 tons.

The reason Megalodon disappeared is a subject of ongoing scientific research, but the most widely accepted theory is that it was a combination of climate change and competition. As the oceans cooled, the large whales it relied on for food migrated to colder, polar waters where the massive shark could not survive. At the same time, the emergence of the great white shark and other, faster predators created a new level of competition for food.