The megalodon, considered one of, if not the largest marine predator to ever live, had enormous teeth, some approaching nearly 8 inches in length. Now a new study states that the giant shark spent millions of years evolving its teeth before they took their iconic form. The study, published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, looks at the differences of 359 fossilized megalodon teeth found on Calvert Cliffs (Chesapeake Bay, Maryland) and compared them to the massive shark's ancestor, Otodus obliquus, which had smooth teeth and cusplets (mini teeth) on both sides of the main tooth. Some teeth contained "tiny bumps or pronounced serrations" where the cusplets once were, while others lacked them. The evolved teeth likely made the megalodon a better hunter, with Perez suggesting it was a "single-strike tactic," done to immobilize the prey and let it bleed.

Source: Fox News March 06, 2019 14:43 UTC