Throughout the years, many documentaries were made, however, most of them are based on false assumptions, with fake stories, videos, and pictures. If Megalodon still exists and feeds on whales, we'd see evidence on whales that survived attacks, just as we see evidence of great white shark attacks on lucky seals that managed to escape. Best guesses put the largest specimens at about 60 feet, with the typical individual at around 40 feet, or about the size of a whale shark. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Are megalodon still alive in the Mariana Trench? Did the megalodon evolve, and its still alive, hiding in the deep ocean? I would like to think that Megalodon is still out there somewhere in the depths of the ocean. Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. While certain details of the video are still unclear (such as the date it was made), the clip's descriptionmatches that of a shark filmed off the coast of Japan in 1989: In September 1989, a large female Pacific Sleeper estimated to be 23 feet (7 metres) long was filmed from the viewing ports of a submersible at a depth of 4,000 feet (1,220 metres) off Saruga Bay, Japan. There's no evidence that the long-extinct megalodon shark is hiding inside the Mariana Trench. What If Earth Reached Boiling Point for 5 Seconds? Because shark skeletons consist mostly of cartilage rather than bone, these are the only parts that fossilize. Like digging a hole into the Mariana Trench. In fact, one of Megalodon's ancient competitors was a massive predatory Sperm Whale with foot-long teeth known as Livyatan Melvillei. Scientists have found whale bones from more than 3.5 million years ago with the etchings of megalodon teeth in them. I'm convinced. i think the meg lives in the ocens but maby not the mirina trench, It could have reproduced and they all stayed down there and ate the squids. Their teeth are widely spaced between 19 and 28 in the upper jaw and 21 to 29 in the lower jaw. ", Another added: Our oceans are huge and there are vast areas that are still unexplored. One reason we know this is because of fossil teeth and vertebrae left behind. Animals of the deep sea often live by scavenging on the decaying remains of plants and animals from the upper zones of the ocean. It is believed that the megalodon lived in tropical and sub-tropical waters throughout the world. Another image is said to show a giant shark which has apparently been captured on Google Earth. Around 3.5 million years ago, Megalodon was gone. And to navigate in total darkness, it would have to either become bioluminescent or grow massive eyes like the giant squid. When the probe surfaced and was inspected on the deck, enormous gorge marks were found in the metalwork and multiple cables were torn. But is it possible that Megalodon is still alive? Many people now believe that megalodon is still alive because of the fictional documentaries. To put the length into perspective, in 1,500 miles you could fit all the states between Florida and Massachusetts. Something went wrong, please try again later. Third of the animals went extinct, including the main prey of the megalodon. People who readily assume megalodon exists today probably also believe in extraterrestrials and biblical miracles. Look at fish. Together, they argue that the fossil evidence aligns better with the rise of the megalodon's smaller but still fierce relative. So, the Pacific Ocean floor is like a big conveyor belt, slowly marching westward over time, where it is recycled into the depths of the Mariana Trench. Creatures down there are almost in sleep all year so they dont have to eat so much. So how does a coastal predator go from munching on whales, pinnipeds, and massive turtles near shore to eating deep-diving creatures in the Marina Trench? After 3 hours, the probe finally came free and rose to the surface. To maintain its body temperature, our megalodon would have to be warm-blooded. Do any sharks live in the trenches? Again, to put this into perspective, the average human bite force is around 1,317 Newtons, while the average bite force of great white sharks is 18,200 Newtons. I like to think fishermen know the difference between a whale shark and something else, but you never know what they really saw. Nature selected the megalodon for extinction, and it should stay like that. The Mariana Trench megalodon would most definitely need to stock up on some of those. Despite multiple scientific expeditions over the years, no megalodon has ever been caught or observed in the Mariana Trench or anywhere else in the world. At its worst, the pressure is 1,000 times stronger than at sea level. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. At that depth, the only life is tiny amphipods, which wouldn't even rate as a snack for Megalodon. The issue with that theory is the Pacific Sleeper Shark grow only to 20 feet, the shark featured is 50+ feet long. It's estimated the megalodon'sjaw would span 2.7 by 3.4metreswide, easily big enough to swallow two adults side-by-side. What Was the Reason for the Megalodon Death? When baby fish are little and young they feed off of the shallows while the larger fish are in the deepest parts of the river way down. Could you get yourself a pet On our hypothetical journey, weve already tested out living on a flat Earth, a cubical Earth, even a hollow Earth. Ill Take a deep breath. Because sharks don't have bones, we will never have a full megalodon skeleton, which means we have to base the size figures on the megalodon shark teeth. All deep-sea creatures also have molecules called piezolytes. Some people believe that the megalodon could live in the Mariana trench, but thats virtually impossible. ", Rchick added: "Scientists and researchers dont know anything for sure. Plus, their jaws were also a bit flatter than that of the great white. That measurement is estimated using the length of the cage, which is 10 feet across. Sorry folks, this is impossible. According to scientists, the great white sharks outcompeted the megalodon and drove it to extinction. The clearly huge creature is recorded as it swims over the top of what is purported to be an abandoned shark cage. I don't think this shark is still out there because there is no real evidence that this big shark is still out there. Extinct species and people dont belong in the same era. Answer: Megalodon was the largest shark that ever lived, but it probably wasnt bigger than a blue whale. ould Megalodon sharks still be alive in the deepest parts of the ocean? Getting bitten by this beast would feel like being crushed by three African elephants stacked on top of each other. With that logic, doesn't it merit the possibility that something that "did" exist previously still can? It's definitely not alive in the deep oceans, despite what the Discovery Channel has said in the past,' notes Emma. Trench Shark Teeth Found in Arizona The Mariana Trench is about as remote as it gets, and even a massive shark would be very hard to find. Taking a fresh look at the fossil record, researchers are now proposing that this mega marine creature may have been killed off by none other than the modern great white shark ( Carcharodon carcharias ). There's no food for it down there, and no other shark species are known to thrive that deep. Megalodon Still Exists to Some Extent, Scientists Say. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. I wouldn't be surprised if there are megs outs there. The Mariana Trench megalodon would most definitely need to stock up on some of those. However, Emma Bernard, who curates the Natural History Museum'sfossil fish collection, says there is absolutely no evidence the behemoths are still around today. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. I think that would be a wonderful site from land to see a Megalodon shark. Despite what you may have heard on the Discovery Channel back in the day, true ocean experts say that there is no way the megalodon still exists in the deep oceans. Using information about its jaw and the number of teeth in its mouth, scientists also say that it likely had one of the most powerful bite forces in animal history somewhere between 108,500 and 182,200 Newtons. Megalodon fossil evidence from around 20 million years ago provides us with the answer. And while youre there, maybe youd be up for a little research project. The killer predator was three times longer and 40 times heavier than the largest ever recorded great white shark. At first, many thought it was a Pacific Sleeper Shark. But we must not shrug off the fact that we still do not know a majority of our deep sea including the trench. The deepest part of the Mariana Trench, Challenger Deep, stretches 10,984 m (36,037 ft) down. ' No. Millions of years ago, the megalodon shark was one of the scariest creatures to ever lurk in our seas. That said, I think a lot of the reports of Megalodon are really just that - the people saw them. From there, its up to you to decide whether the megalodon is alive or went extinct millions of years ago. Throughout time, people have developed a lot of theories, many claiming that the Megalodon never went extinct, and its still roaming in the oceans. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. 3838 Camino Del Rio N #102 San Diego, CA 92108. the only way we know is by searching the Mariana trench. The Mariana Trench is located in the Pacific Ocean and is the deepest known part of the world's oceans, stretching more than 11 kilometers (6. She has also said the megalodon would not be able to survive in the cold climate of the deep oceans, the only place it could go unnoticed. That means even a 100-foot meg may not have weighed as much as a blue whale. To put that in context, the average ocean depth is 12,000 feet, only a third of the Trench. That sounds like plenty of parking space for a megalodon or two. So cool. Its appearance and the maximum size are debatable, and the assumptions we have today are based on the size of its teeth. Living fossils, or species that were known solely through fossil record only to be later discovered alive, include most famously the bizarre coelacanth fish. Please keep these people away from the voting booths! People and megalodon live in the same era. The hypothesis is intriguing, but the debate over the megalodon's extinction isn't likely to end here. Sign up to FREE email alerts with news to brighten your day. Find out more, Contact Advertise Licensing Newsletter Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Terms of ServiceOur Production Process. The giant's terrifying jaws were lined with 276 teeth - measuring up to an incredible seven inches in length. Manage Settings those who participate in a revolt or open rebellion; polly noonan albany They believe the massive megalodon- focus of the new Jason Statham film The Meg - has successfully evaded detection for millions of years. For example, megalodon vertebrae have been found, which are about as large as your average food plate. We can only say probably because so little is known about the appearance of megalodon. More to the point, since no sharks exist below 12,000 feet, and no large prey items, it seems highly unlikely that Megalodon would have evolved to live at such depth. cryptid (author) from USA on May 14, 2015: Interesting thought, John. Anything is possible.