O. megalodon, my megalodon.
The enormous O. megalodon went extinct around 3.6 million years ago.
Megalodon remains are fragmentary, and inferences about the shark are generally made from its fist-sized teeth and vertebrae.
The endangered shortfin mako, O. megalodon’s closest living relative.Photo:Wikimedia Commons
(Which is a relief, because imagine the logistics of megalodon-sized box.)
Alas, food availability is a prime suspect for what may have killed off the ancient shark.
News from the future, delivered to your present.
A graphic showing how O. megalodon’s body shape may differ from previous assumptions.Graphic:DePaul University/Kenshu Shimada
