Megalodon (drawing)

Pencil on A3, high quality, acid free paper (this is a photo only - not a scan).      

Prehistoric levianthan

 For more than 16 million years, Megalodon was one of the most fearsome levianthans of prehistoric seas. Fossil excavations suggest that it was present in all of the world´s subtropical to temperate oceans and seas. The maximum length of a full grown Megalodon exceeded 20 meters /65 ft/. At this length, its body mass could reach more than 100 metric tons.
 Although, its taxonomic assignment is still the subject of dispute, in shape Megalodon teeth resemble the teeth of the Great White Shark. These two species were contemporaries. The earliest fossil remains of the Great White Shark that have been excavated so far are 16 million years old. Except the considerable size difference, Megalodon teeth were much more robust and saw-edged. Thus Megalodon teeth were well adapted to slice large chunks of flesh. All the available evidence suggest that it was a highly specializes Macro predator which primarily fed on large toothed whales. Many whale fossils have visible bite marks corresponding to the unique shape of its teeth and the overall bite distribution pattern suggest a very effective hunting strategy. The prey had been primarily immobilized by biting of its locomotive organs before it was killed and fed on. The first strike came from below and was always violent and devastating, thus minimizing the risk of injury from the prey.

 According to our current knowledge, 1.5 million years ago Megalodong disappeared from the seas. What caused its extinction remains mystery. But most probably it was a combination of different factors. The most profound factor was a series of large climatic changes that disturbed its habitat, causing considerable decline in food supply.
 Because from the paleontological point of view, Megalodon became extinct relatively recently /the extinction of dinosaurs is dated back to 66 million years ago/ many theories exist, about how it survived in the deep oceans.