Is Carcharodon megalodon Still Alive?

Megalodon is thought to have went extinct approximately 2 million years ago after being the ocean's top predator for about 20 million years. Megalodon lived after dinosaurs and before humans; it did not co-exist with either.

The relationship between Carcharodon megalodon and the modern Great White shark is debated among scientists, but some believe that C. megalodon is the ancestor of the top predator in the sea today: The Great White Shark!

Food for thought:

While scientific evidence suggests that C. megalodon is extinct, we may not have 100% proof. Only a tiny fraction of the deep sea has been explored; 90% of the ocean has never been seen! In addition, we are constantly discovering new deep sea creatures which only proves how little we know about the deep sea and what lives down there. We think Megalodon is extinct, but of course there is no way to be 100% sure; you never know.

My personal opinion: Megalodon is extinct!

The University of New South Wales in Australia conducted a research experiment using computerized models to determine just how powerful the bite of Megalodon was.

The research team discovered that Megalodon could crush its prey with a bite force of an estimated 20,000 - 40,000 pounds! In comparison, the Great White shark can bite with a force of up to only 4,000 pounds. That is a powerful bite for a shark, but nothing compared to the prehistoric beast Megalodon.

Megalodon has the strongest bite force of any animal including the T-Rex and other dinosaurs. The estimated bite force of the Tyrannosaurus rex is just shy of 7,000 pounds.

It is hypothesized that Megalodon preyed upon giant whales, fish, squid, turtles, and many other large prehistoric sea creatures.

How did Megalodon hunt such massive prey?

Carcharodon megalodon is believed to have hunted its large prey by immobilizing the animals. There are two theories about Megalodon's hunting method, and the two of them may have been used in combination.

1) Megalodon is thought to have bitten off body parts of its prey that are necessary for propulsion, such as fins. Its immobilized prey would then be helpless and make for an easier meal.

2) Megalodon is known for its massive jaws and teeth which may have been used to crush the head/neck/chest regions of its prey. Crushing the chest region of its prey would damage vital organs such as the heart and lungs (of mammals).

There are stories about whale fossils with massive teeth scrapings that may have been inflicted by Megalodon. Of course we may never know the exact causes of those markings.