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Get your diving gear ready to celebrate National Megalodon Day on June 15! This day commemorates the ancient giant shark species, which lived around 2 million years ago. It was one of the largest predatory fish ever known to exist and is believed to have grown up to 50-60 feet in length. Today, this extinct species continues to fascinate people with its remarkable size and power.
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1600s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Early Discovery of Megalodon Teeth</div><div class='timeline-text'>In the 17th century, large triangular fossils were discovered and were later identified as Megalodon teeth.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1843</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Scientific Classification</div><div class='timeline-text'>Swiss naturalist Louis Agassiz classified Megalodon as a shark species and named it Carcharodon megalodon.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1923</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Reclassification of Megalodon</div><div class='timeline-text'>Paleontologist D.S. Jordan reclassified Megalodon into Carcharocles, distinct from modern white sharks.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1970s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Megalodon in Pop Culture</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Megalodon caught popular imagination through books and movies depicting this massive ancient marine predator.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2018</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>"The Meg" Movie Release</div><div class='timeline-text'>"The Meg", a blockbuster movie about a group confronting a living Megalodon, fascinated audiences worldwide.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2019</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First National Megalodon Day</div><div class='timeline-text'>The inaugural National Megalodon Day was celebrated to honor this ancient legendary predator of the sea.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Watch a Megalodon movie</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>There are a variety of movies featuring megalodons. From blockbusters like “The Meg” to documentaries like “Megalodon: The Monster Shark Lives”, you can find an entertaining and educational film to watch on National Megalodon Day.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Visit a local aquarium</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Take a trip to your nearest aquarium and learn more about the anatomy, behavior, and history of megalodons. Many aquariums host special events that focus on these ancient predators during National Megalodon Day.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Go fossil hunting</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Heading outdoors is a great way to celebrate National Megalodon Day. Look for fossils in nearby creeks or rivers and try to find evidence of these mysterious creatures from millions of years ago.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Create a megalodon craft</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Get creative and make your own megalodon! Using construction paper, paint, markers, and other art supplies, you can create an artistic representation of this extinct species.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Host a megalodon themed party</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Invite all your friends over for a fun megalodon themed party! Decorate with blue streamers and hang up pictures of megalodons. Serve food such as shark shaped cookies, popcorn fishbowls, and other sea creature treats.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Megalodons were huge</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Megalodons were some of the biggest predators ever to have lived. With massive teeth measuring around 7 inches and bodies reaching more than 60 feet in length, these ancient creatures were a force to be reckoned with!</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Megalodons lived in the Mesozoic era</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>The Mesozoic era was an interesting time in Earth's history that lasted from 250 million years ago until 65 million years ago. During this period, dinosaurs ruled the land while Megalodons roamed the oceans. It's fascinating to imagine what life could have been like during this time!</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Megalodon fossils can still be found today</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Although it has been millions of years since Megalodons have been on Earth, their fossilized teeth and other remains can still be found today. This makes it possible for us to learn more about these incredible ancient creatures and gain insight into what life was like millions of years ago.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Megalodon means "Big Tooth"</h3><p class='facts-content'>Named by Swiss naturalist Louis Agassiz in 1843, Megalodon, derived from ancient Greek, means "big tooth". As the biggest teeth ever discovered are from Megalodon, the name is quite fitting.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Megalodon babies were Cannibalistic in Utero</h3><p class='facts-content'>Like modern-day sharks, Megalodon mothers gave live birth. However, unborn pups were known to eat their siblings while still in the womb, essentially ensuring only the strongest survived to birth.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Megalodons had Powerful Bites</h3><p class='facts-content'>With an estimated biting force of between 10.8 to 18.2 tons, the Megalodon was capable of exerting one of the most powerful bites that ever existed on Earth.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Megalodons were Possibly Warm-Blooded</h3><p class='facts-content'>Unlike most fish which are cold-blooded, scientists believe the Megalodon was possibly warm-blooded. Maintaining a high body temperature would have given them the advantage to adapt to different climatic conditions and dominate the oceans worldwide.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Megalodons' Diet Probably Included Whales and Large Fish</h3><p class='facts-content'>Ancient whale bones have been found with clear signs of large, serrated bite marks that match the size of Megalodon's teeth. This suggests that they fed on large prehistoric whales along with big fishes and sea turtles.</p></div></div>
National Megalodon Day is celebrated on June 15 every year. In 2024 National Megalodon Day will occur on a Saturday.
2023
Jun 15
Thursday
2024
Jun 15
Saturday
2025
Jun 15
Sunday
2026
Jun 15
Monday
2027
Jun 15
Tuesday
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