A Prehistoric Giant: The Megalodon

The 50ft sharks were the baddest fish in the ocean as they loomed through the waters over three million years ago, although apparently they're no match for Jason Statham.

But to find out why the shark went extinct, scientists have since been looking for answers in the megalodon’s most abundant fossil, its teeth.

An Unlikely Discovery

Speleologist and photographer Kay Nicte Vilchis Zapata and her speleologist partner Erick Sosa Rodriguez discovered the fossils while diving in the sinkhole in Maderia. Fifteen dental fossils were found in the district of Cholul, which was once thought to have been under the sea.

Out of the 15 fossils, 13 of them belonged to three different species of the shark, one of which being the once deadly megalodon.

Unearthing History

Back in 2019, Zapata told local media: "We were looking at the wall, and suddenly I saw a little something, I went closer and I saw that it was a tooth, that was the first, and apparently it belonged to a sawshark."

The shark teeth belonged to the megalodon shark (Carcharocles megalodon), the mackerel shark (Isurus oxyrinchus), and the sawshark.

They concluded that the geologic timescale for the megalodon teeth extended from around 5 million to 2.5 million years ago.

The Science Behind the Discovery

Speleologist Sosa Rodriguez explained: "It is just proof of what scientists have already studied and written about; what kind of wildlife lived here millions of years ago when this was part of the sea.

"The anthropologist and physicist Salvador Estrada has already launched an investigation."

Extinction Theories

This comes after research earlier this year that suggested that the megalodon's Body Temperature could be the reason for its extinction.

Scientists have suggested that the megalodon was able to maintain a body temperature that was about 7°C warmer than the surrounding water.

The Extinction Puzzle

Based on the analysis of tooth enamel from the ancient shark, the findings might help explain why it went extinct 3.6 million years ago.

According to the study - which was published in the Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences journal - the amount of energy the megalodon used to stay warm could have contributed to its extinction.

Lead researcher Robert Eagle, a UCLA assistant professor of atmospheric and oceanic sciences, said: “Studying the driving factors behind the extinction of a highly successful predatory shark like megalodon can provide insight into the vulnerability of large marine predators in modern ocean ecosystems experiencing the effects of ongoing climate change.”

Competition and Climate Change

Randy Flores, a UCLA doctoral student and fellow of the Centre for Diverse Leadership in Science, explained: “Maintaining an energy level that would allow for megalodon’s elevated body temperature would require a voracious appetite that may not have been sustainable in a time of changing marine ecosystem balances when it may have even had to compete against newcomers such as the great white shark.”

Conclusion

The discovery of megalodon teeth in a submerged Mexican cave offers a fascinating glimpse into the ancient oceans. While it's a thrilling find, it also raises more questions about the enigmatic creature's extinction. The evidence of its elevated body temperature shedding light on one possible reason behind its demise is just the beginning of a deeper exploration into the life and times of the megalodon.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a megalodon?

   The megalodon was a gigantic prehistoric shark that existed over three million years ago, known for its massive size.

2. How did the scientists find these megalodon teeth?

   Divers Kay Nicte Vilchis Zapata and Erick Sosa Rodriguez discovered the teeth while diving in a submerged cave in Mexico.

3. What might have caused the megalodon's extinction?

   Researchers believe that the megalodon's ability to maintain a higher body temperature than the surrounding water may have contributed to its extinction.

4. What other shark species were found in the cave?

   Alongside megalodon teeth, teeth from the mackerel shark and the sawshark were also discovered.

5. What further research is being conducted in light of this discovery?

   Anthropologist and physicist Salvador Estrada has initiated an investigation to explore the ancient wildlife that inhabited the region when it was part of the sea.