Scientists from the Spanish Institute of Oceanography, IEO,have found in a site 1,000 meters deep, in the Canary Islands, remains of megalodon (Otodus megaselachus). This type of shark is the largest that has existed so far, it populated this water during the Miocene and could reach 20 meters and weigh 100 tons.
Although the paleontological site was discovered almost a year ago, in October 2012, it has not been until now that the remains found have been analyzed in detail. IEO scientists have verified that the bones and teeth deposited in the underwater mountain known as Banco de Concepción, located north of the island of La Graciosa, belong to megalodon, which allows us to know more exactly what kind of living beings inhabited this water millions of years ago.
For one of the marine biologists who have worked in the research, Pedro J. Pascual,It is an event of great scientific relevance, as it provides new information that allows the seascape to be outlinedIt exists in the Canary Islands when they began to be born from the ocean floor, during the Miocene, between 23 and 5 million years ago.
Besides ofOtodus (Megaselachus)megalodon, remains of other extinct species have been found such as theParatodus benedeni(one of the great open water predators of the time),Cosmopolitodus disease(considered the predecessor shark of the current great white shark),Hemipristis serra(shark similar to the current toothfish),Isurus retroflexus(now extinct species of shark of the family of the Limes) and even remains of a siren that could belong to theMetaxytherium.
