it would also be able to have its normal body temperature sense of heat vents in the Mariana. For twenty million years, the world's oceans were home to a monstrous shark, named the 'megalodon'. The Mariana Trench is the deepest underwater place there is. As the largest shark that ever roamed the Earth, people can't help but imagine whether or not this giant predator is still lurking in the ocean's depths. Based on what we know about this megatooth shark, scientists estimate that their jaws could open anywhere from 2.7 to 3.4 meters wide. Experts believe that a third of the world's large marine creatures went extinct when the world's temperatures plummeted, including sea birds and turtles. What If Earth Reached Boiling Point for 5 Seconds? i have studied the oceans. What if megalodon was still alive in the Mariana Trench? The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. The timing is everything. What If the World Lost Oxygen for Five Seconds? US NOAA (Scot Anderson) [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons. Plus, why wouldn't they just migrate to where whales and large food items live? There were megalodons later. Not only was the megalodon shark the largest shark to ever exist, but it was also the largest fish in existence. So that's my point of view. How many megalodons are there left? - coalitionbrewing.com The megalodon wasn't alone in this global cooling extinction, however. Suddenly, your sub experiences an earthquake. Scientists believe that the megalodon's oldest ancestor was the Otodus Obliquus, which lived in the deep ocean more than 55 million years ago. If the Megamouth Shark remained hidden for so long simply because it dove to 500 feet for most of the day, what chances do we have of finding a Megalodon that may live at 3,000 feet? What If Columbus Never Discovered America? I don't think this shark is still out there because there is no real evidence that this big shark is still out there. Youre in the deepest part of our oceans. Another reason megalodon fossils don't contain skeletons is that shark skeletons are made of cartilage, which is the same material found in our ears and nose. What Would Happen if We Dig a Hole Straight Through Earth. The drop in temperatures affected these sharks in many ways. She said: "With its large serrated teeth megalodon would have eaten meat - most likely whales and large fish, and probably other sharks. When people first encountered Megalodon teeth, they believed them to be rocks that had made their way to Earth from the moon.- Megalodon was the biggest shark to terrorize the ocean, and it is thought to have gone extinct 2.6 million years ago. It really is the final frontier (on Earth). It is believed to have died around three million years ago, though there are plenty who still believe it is alive today. An expert on ancient sharks told National Geographic that he is not convinced that just one species can cause such a decline. There are no "official" sightings on record. Bad Brad*9 wrote: "Our oceans are huge and there are vast areas that are still unexplored. One wrote: I think they went deeper into the seas like the giant squid which is why we never see them. How long have Keir Starmer and Sue Gray been secretly cooking up their plot? Researchers are aware of some interesting Mariana trench animals, but the megalodon is not one of them. Human bones and bones of other large marine animals are typically made of mineral calcium phosphate, which hardens and is fossilized much easier. Because shark skeletons consist mostly of cartilage rather than bone, these are the only parts that fossilize. This fact alone is enough for most researchers to conclude that Megalodon is extinct. Does the Megalodon Shark live in the Mariana Trench, deep in the darkest part of the ocean? In this case, the Pacific tectonic plate is moving very slowly to the west, and pressure is pushing it down into the Earth's crust where it meets the Philippine Plate. What if Megalodon was still alive? Despite its size, the megalodon is no match for us. And to navigate in total darkness, it would have to either become bioluminescent or grow massive eyes like the giant squid. 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. Jaw-dropping Research Reveals Megalodon Mysteries So it is a possibility but highly unlikely. Some believe its is proof megaladons are not exticnt while others say its bears a very strong resemblance to a sleeper shark. Just because we have encountered alien life, does not mean it's not out there. The Mariana Trench megalodon would most definitely need to stock up on some of those. In 1976, a massive new species was accidentally captured after trying to swallow a ships anchor off the coast of Hawaii. And how would the Mariana Trench make this apex predator more docile?Transcript and sources: https://whatifshow.com/what-if-the-megalodon-was-hiding-in-the-mariana-trench/00:00 The Apex Predator01:04 We Know More About Mars Than our Oceans02:42 How would the megalodon shark get its food?04:21 What are piezolytes?Questions or concerns? 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. She added the megalodon would not be able to survive in the cold waters of the deep, where it would stand a better chance of going unnoticed. This material may not be reproduced without permission. While the megalodon does not exist any longer, the vast ocean is still deeply unexplored, leaving us with millions of unanswered questions. Far to the east, the new ocean floor is created by volcanic activity. But with so many custom fittings and edits to its genetic structure, would it still be the terrifying megalodon we know? What could this apex predator be hunting in the deep? How 'deluded' Putin thought Ukraine invasion would break up Nato & have West bowing down to Russia, leaked docs show, Man had sex with his wife on bollard after fuming neighbour placed it in cul-de-sac in protest during parking row, 'Bubbly' nightclub worker, 31, killed after her Audi crashed into a bridge on her way home from work, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). They preferred warmer waters, and with the colder temperatures, their natural habitat started to reduce, resulting in fewer numbers of megalodon sharks. In the daytime, it dives down to 500 feet or deeper. This is all food for thought. From there, its up to you to decide whether the megalodon is alive or went extinct millions of years ago. this is my favorite prehistoric creature and i will keep doing research. Evidence suggests this is an incorrect reconstruction. There's no food for it down there, and no other shark species are known to thrive that deep. Fossil remains also tell us that the megalodon had around276 teeth. Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. Instead, he suggests the authors may have overlooked other culprits, like the modern tiger shark, which also shared similar territory to the juvenile megalodon. What if megalodon sharks never went extinct? With sharks constantly losing teeth to the murky depths, it is no wonder collectors are so easily able to find fossilized teeth on the ocean floor! ' No, not at all. It's estimated the megalodon's jaw would span 2.7 by 3.4 metres wide, easily big enough to swallow two adults side-by-side. IF this same behavior is followed by the megalodon when you factor the size it would explain why we haven't discovered them yet if they still exist. There's no evidence that the long-extinct megalodon shark is hiding inside the Mariana Trench. Do any sharks live in the trenches? Estimates suggest megalodon actually grew to between 15 . Scroll down for the quiz! Very intelligently written and well organized. The Sea of Cortez is a body of water between the Baja Peninsula and Mexico. Same goes for the Ocean. At its deepest, it is estimated at nearly 10,000 feet. Its appearance and the maximum size are debatable, and the assumptions we have today are based on the size of its teeth. Megalodon is NOT alive today, it went extinct around 3.5 million years ago. However, there are also scientists who say the lineage of this apex predator stretches back even further. All deep-sea creatures also have molecules called piezolytes. When competition gets really fierce, the fight for survival turns into a zero sum game, and as the availableprey began to dwindle in number, the great white appears to have come out on top. The timing is everything. It would make much more sense if it lived closer to the surface. A video shows a Megaladon Shark at the bottom of the Mariana Trench. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. Megalodon was a 60-foot shark that hunted near shore and fed on large whales and other marine creatures. But this diet plan would not work for this ancient, warm-water-dwelling apex predator. 99% of the ocean floor has yet to be discovered so if you want to get cocky and be scientific by saying they are extinct then you have to leave room for the possibility that its possible they may still exist. cryptid (author) from USA on May 20, 2014: I agree that is true. A Sperm Whale would surely make a meal for a Megalodon. We see this possibility at other locations where Megalodon is said to still exist. So what if the largest apex predator never went extinct, like we thought it did? Past research suggests that the megalodon (Otodus megalodon) went missing 2.6 million years ago alongside a wave of marine extinction, potentially caused by a supernovathat triggered severe climate and biodiversity changes during this time. cryptid (author) from USA on May 14, 2015: Interesting thought, John. He has said that unusually large and unidentified sharks are still being reported. At first, many thought it was a Pacific Sleeper Shark. It's somewhat rare but not unheard for species to eat their own kind given the proper circumstances. The clearly huge creature is recorded as it swims over the top of what is purported to be an abandoned shark cage. A giant shark caught on camera scouring the bottom of the Mariana Trench has sparked debate about if megalodons still exist. In conclusion, until you can map the entirety of the ocean simultaneously and with detail, we cannot KNOW anything. I think the Megalodon The shark is in the marian trench. How could it withstand the immense pressure? To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. They can crash boats, but we are smart and more than capable to build big and well-equipped ships. Its believed that the megalodon could reach a maximum length of 16 meters (52 ft). I hope they still live because it would be extraordinary to see or find one. Third of the animals went extinct, including the main prey of the megalodon. Megalodon ( Carcharocles megalodon) is the largest shark, at a magnificent maximum length of 18 meters (59 feet), to ever have dwelled in the oceans. You have to take size into consideration. This giant shark is well-known for starring in the 2018 megalodon movie, The Meg. The megalodon would swim to the upper reaches of the ocean and feed at night. We know more about the surface of Mars than we do about our oceans. How could it withstand the immense pressure? Even Boessenecker says we need more research before we can solve this mystery. At one time many parts of the world thought the world was flat so you can see that now we look back and laugh. The Pacific Sleeper Shark and Greenland Shark are huge animals reaching over 20 feet in length and can live at depths of up to 9,000 feet. The Mariana Trench is a massive canyon in the Earth's crust and the deepest part of the ocean. Very likely in my opinion, given how little of the oceans we have explored thus far. What do you say we try to survive on an Earth document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Making science accessible on social media since 2017. There is no mistaking the 15 cm (6 in) teeth of the largest apex predator, the megalodon. Galloway, N.J. - Fossilized teeth and vertebrae are all that remain from the extinct Megalodon, the largest shark to have ever hunted our oceans But that was just enough for a team of paleontologists to reconstruct pieces of the prehistoric predator's life history. Around 3.5 million years ago, Megalodon was gone. Researchers compare the sparse fossil remains, which consist only of teeth and vertebrae, with living animals such as the great white shark to estimate the length of megalodon. Its believed that the megalodon went extinct in the period when the planet Earth entered a phase of global cooling 3.6 million years ago. And experts say there has been no reports of any whales which have been attacked by a predator large enough to be a megalodon. What If We Turned Earth Into a Spaceship? Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Similar to the great white, however, the Otodus megalodon had ultra-long pectoral fins to support its massive size. The Brit expert writes: Unusually large, unidentified sharks are still being reported from time to time. It is rich in sea life, with several species of large whales in residence. See our Megalodon Size Comparison and Megalodon vs Blue Whale articles to learn more! Even if it could survive those pressures, there wouldn't be anything for it to eat due to the animals down there being small. What If Earths Magnetic Field Disappeared? A living Megalodon deep in the Mariana Trench is a hopeful idea, but modern science tells us that the Megalodon Shark went extinct thousands of years ago. It would also have to switch its diet from whales, dolphins, sea lions, and sea cows to whatever organisms reside in the Mariana Trench and hope that it could find and eat its usual 2,500 lb of food per day.- According to the United Nations, there are 7.6 billion people in the world today, and only 3 of them have made it to the deepest point on Earth. What if the megalodon was alive today? "If an animal as big as megalodon still lived in the oceans we would know about it.". However, Emma Bernard, who curates the Natural History Museum'sfossil fish collection, says there is absolutely no evidence the behemoths are still around today. Though there is not much information surrounding this particular fossil right now, scientists say that it could help us craft a better idea of what these massive sharks looked like. Kudos! But its a only small Would you ever venture into the ocean if you knew this creature could be lurking beneath you? Living fossils, or species that were known solely through fossil record only to be later discovered alive, include most famously the bizarre coelacanth fish. The giant's terrifying jaws were lined with 276 teeth - measuring up to an incredible seven inches in length. After making extensive adjustments, they calculated that the shark's disappearance must have happened at least one million years earlier than once thought. So you can plan your trip to the Mariana Trench knowing you wouldnt be eaten by a gigantic shark. Unlikely. Dozens of sightings of incredibly large sharks have become the stuff of legend among fishermen around the seas of New South Wales in Australia. The Creature That Killed Off The Giant Megalodon Might Still Live in Megalodon really did exist. That said, I think a lot of the reports of Megalodon are really just that - the people saw them. But is it possible that Megalodon is still alive? . 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. With such a large body, eating large prey was likely a requirement. Enhanced super sensitive sensory organs. Given that it was a massive shark with noticeable feeding habits, we guess that if Megalodon sharks were still roaming the oceans, they would probably have been spotted by someone by now. In fact, does anything live at those depths? Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Its skin could evolve to enable more tactile ways of feeling its way around. The giant prehistoric shark, called a megalodon, ate everything in its path and was said to lurk in the Earths deepest oceans. An expandable stomach could help it store food. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. But we must not shrug off the fact that we still do not know a majority of our deep sea including the trench. As for what it eats probably squid, tunia, and maybe whales. Ultimately, it's up to you to decide what you think is possible. CMHypno from Other Side of the Sun on May 20, 2014: Interesting hub cryptid. "I personally think that this monstrous sea creature's present-day survival is an unlikely prospect, but it is certainly an inordinately interesting one to research.". In a scenario where megalodons and people live at the same time, they still couldnt stand a chance against us. it is living in mariana trench cause they explored the mariana trench with a water craft and have left a big megalodon teeth at the water craft, i think its real and am going to fine one. Has a megalodon been found in the Mariana Trench? - Quora Our shows take you to the frontiers of science and make the most complex ideas and theories entertaining and accessible. O. megalodon was not only the biggest shark in the world, but one of the largest fish ever to exist. Are they right? The hadal snailfish, the deepest dwelling fish we know, has flexible cartilage instead of bones. 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 ). What people report seeing could be just a very large shark of another species. It just means a large amount of prey, or a very slow and long life at low temperatures. it has the possibility to have eat'n small fish and survived and if so it would be smaller compared to its normal size because of pressure and it would be very sensitive to light.