Photo Credit: "Megalodon: Extinct." blogspot.com. N.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2012.

               <http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_y4_HoZHb04k/SlyWXMg_RI/AAAAAAAAAAU/FC_ZS_oJ5kk/s1600/megalodon+scale.png>

The Megalodon shark is one of the largest sharks scientists believe to have ever existed. The only evidence of the beast survives in fossil remains of teeth and vertebra. No other bones have been found because all sharks are mostly comprised of cartilage. Different estimates put the giant shark between 52 and 120 feet in length, making jaws look like a minnow! This topic is of interest because of a recent trip down to the Gulf of Mexico. I spotted a shark swimming around the reef that was easily 7 feet in length. As it sliced through the water with ease, I wondered what bigger fish are out there? I believe the possibility of the Megalodon's existence is very high! With half eaten whale carcasses washing ashore periodically, who's to say jaw's pissed off relative isn't alive and well? Does this mythical creature exist? The ocean is deep and vast. Who knows what lies beneath the oceans surface!

Photo Credit: ""Megalodon"." blobspot.com. N.d. Web. 18 Oct, 2012.

                    <http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qTikF_Denbg/S-UgvcZtZKI/AAAAAAAAAko/fqXz2MVyLIM/s1600/megalodon-out-of-blue.jpg>

Thought to have been extinct nearly 2 million years ago, the Megalodon is the world’s most fierce predator to ever live. A lion is a fierce hunting machine and may be the king of the jungle, but its wimpy biting force only achieves about 600 pounds. About.com says, that the shark popularly known as the Great White has the greatest current clamping force of around 1.8 tons! So how do these statistics relate to the topic? Because a lion or a great white are some of the most feared animals of our time. They are the rulers of their domain. Also to emphasize, the biting force of the Megalodon is believed to be between 10 and 18 tons! This behemoth snacked on great whites and made meals of whales. The biting force helped it break the tough bones of whales and immobilize it prey in one fierce bit. This shark is truly nature’s most unstoppable force. Nothing could recon with it. With a max estimated weight of 100 tons, this shark's legend lives on as the biggest and most powerful predator to ever swim the seas, only to be out sized by one creature; the blue whale. One tooth of this great shark measures to be 6-8 inches tall! Unknown Explorers says through carbon dating, these teeth suggest that as little as 10,000 years ago the Megalodon may have still existed. Perhaps it evolved to survive in the depths of the ocean to escape extinction? It is a well-known fact that the oceans of the world are vastly unexplored!

Statistic Credit:
"10 Facts about Megalodon." About.com. N.D. Web. 23 Oct. 2012. <http://dinosaurs.about.com/od/otherprehistoriclife/a/megalodon-facts.htm>

"Megalodon." www.enchantedlearning.com. N.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/sharks/glossary/Megalodon.shtml>

Photo Credit:( "We're Gonna Need A Bigger Trophy Room." www.fieldandstream.com. N.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2012.

<http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/field-notes/2011/03/were-gonna-need-bigger-trophy-room-megalodon-jaw-auction>

In the deepest part of the ocean, the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific, Japanese researchers have conducted an experiment. They put a container with some smelly bait on the ocean floor along with high tech cameras. Researchers waited to see what would happen with the container and the bait. The smell of the bait attracted a plethora of deep-water sharks. According to unexplained-mysteries.com this is when they saw something incredible that left them speechless. Suddenly all the sharks scattered in every directions and researchers saw an incredibly huge monster. The giant slowly soared before the video camera. The length of this mystery creature was more than 180 feet but it was not clear what the giant was. Researchers failed to answer the question only ideas about what the creature may be. They said that it might be the largest shark ever recorded on film. Theories suggest that these sharks have been hiding in the dark ocean deeps for millions of years. Scientists still do not know what they saw. In the 1960’s along the edge of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, an 85 foot boat experienced engine trouble, which forced it to weigh anchor for repairs. Although the men subsequently refused to openly report what they had seen for fear of public ridicule. The crew later told friends of sighting a giant shark as it slowly past their ship. It was said to be as long if not longer than their boat! Being experienced men of the sea, they were certain the creature was not a whale. It could have been the giant shark known as the Megalodon! Though this monster is thought to have died out 170 million years ago, could this beast be making a come back?


"Megalodon." www.enchantedlearning.com. N.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/sharks/glossary/Megalodon.shtml>


"10 Facts about Megalodon." About.com. N.D. Web. 23 Oct. 2012. <http://dinosaurs.about.com/od/otherprehistoriclife/a/megalodon-facts.htm>

Watch the Japanese footage here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTKzrVv7I_o

Photo Credit: "Anchors Away, My Friends." grouchymuffin.com. N.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2012.

We have little to no evidence about the megalodon's current existence. We only have teeth and jaw bones to prove that this great beast existed many years ago.  Could this giant still exist in the deep dark depths of the ocean? With modern science and sea exploration on the rise, maybe someday we will have a concrete answer. Next time you hear about a half eaten whale wash up on shore, caution yourself before taking a swim. You never know what waits in the water. Discovery.com says only 5% of the ocean's deep waters have been explored. A whopping 95% still hides many new secrets and marvels. The Megalodon could hide beneath those clam dark waters.

"Oceanography." Discovery.com. N.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2012.
<http://curiosity.discovery.com/question/unexplored-ocean-depth>

(Photo Credit: Dan Varner)

So, are there more overwhelming stories than fact? Or do we take the evidence and acknowledge that maybe some of these stories are true? I personally believe there is a very large possibility that the Megalodon still swims the deep waters. We still don't have enough evidence to dismiss the possibility for this monsters existence. To much is still unknown about our planets oceans. I think it would be foolish to dismiss the idea entirely. This massive shark could still be out there! I think only time will tell for sure, but until then keep aware when boating on the ocean. You never know what hides beneath the surface.