Walk down memory lane with us to look at past special exhibits we’ve enjoyed here at the Florida Museum! While this exhibit has moved on to other places, we treasured the opportunity to learn and explore. Find out what exhibits are currently here at the Museum:
This exhibit was on display September 19, 2020, through January 10, 2021
The world’s largest shark returned to Gainesville in 2020! Visitors marveled at Megalodon, the gigantic prehistoric shark that once cruised the planet’s oceans. They walked through the jaws of a 60-foot-long replica of this apex predator, counted shark growth rings, took pictures with some huge chompers, and got a close-up look at fossil specimens and life-size models of other ancient and modern sharks.
Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace
Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace
Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace
Florida Museum photo by Jeff Gage
Florida Museum photo by Jeff Gage
Florida Museum photo by Jeff Gage
Megalodon lived 17 million to 2 million years ago.
Megalodon was about 60 feet long with a body mass of about 77 tons. However, the 2018 movie “The Meg” depicted the shark as being truly Hollywood-sized at 90 feet long.
Megalodon had 46 front row teeth: 24 in the upper jaw and 22 in the lower.
Sharks average six rows of teeth – Megalodon had about 276 teeth at any given time! Its name, translated from Greek, means “giant tooth.”
Some scientists estimate Megalodon ate about 2,500 pounds of food every day, including whales and other large fish.
Megalodon belongs to a group of giants called megatoothed sharks, all now extinct.
Ancient people collected Megalodon teeth, and traditional legends feature giant sharks.
Megalodon may be extinct, but it’s still with us, appearing in books, movies, cartoons and video games, and on stamps and jewelry.
Thomas Jefferson was an avid fossil hunter and owned a Megalodon tooth.
Though they are top marine predators, modern sharks are in population decline due to overfishing and environmental changes.
Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived
