Why did Megalodon go extinct? - Jack Cooper and Catalina Pimiento
TED-Ed・2 minutes read
Megalodon was an ancient shark species that grew up in nurseries before becoming massive apex predators, ultimately going extinct around 3.5 million years ago due to environmental changes and competition with other predators like the great white shark.
Insights
- Megalodon, the massive prehistoric shark, grew up in shallow waters based on teeth found in nurseries, showcasing their evolution from juveniles to formidable hunters in the ocean.
- The extinction of megalodons 3.5 million years ago was influenced by environmental shifts such as cooling climates, habitat loss, and competition with other predators, causing significant ecosystem disruptions and global impacts.
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What is the Megalodon?
A prehistoric shark species.
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Summary
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Megalodon: Prehistoric Giant Shark's Extinction Causes
- Megalodon, the largest shark to ever exist, was identified as a prehistoric species through fossilized teeth, with some teeth found in nurseries indicating their growth process in shallow waters before becoming formidable adult marine hunters.
- Scientists estimate that megalodons could reach up to 20 meters in length, three times longer than great white sharks, and were apex predators that consumed large prey species, including other predators.
- Megalodons went extinct around 3.5 million years ago due to environmental changes like cooling global climate, loss of coastal habitats, and competition with other predators like the great white shark, leading to global consequences and ecosystem destabilization.
