Researchers from the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) have discovered an important underwater fossil site in the Canary Islands, north of the island of La Graciosa, in which teeth of megalodon have been found, the largest shark and largest marine predator that has existed on the planet, which reached 20 meters and weighed 100 tons.
In addition to the megalodon fossils, which belong to specimens of the species Otodus (megaselachus) megalodon, fossilized remains of other extinct sharks, fragments of the skull and rib of a sirenian (marine mammals of the manatee, dugong or sea cow type), as well as fossilized whale bones were found.
Although the discovery of the fossils occurred in October 2012, their precise identification was recently carried out at the IEO's Canary Islands Oceanographic Center by scientists Pedro J. Pascual Alayón, marine biologist at the IEO, and Franco Cigala Fulgosi, professor of paleontology and paleoecology at the University of Parma (Italy).
The underwater paleontological site was discovered at a depth of more than 1,000 meters at the foot of the underwater mountain known as Banco de Concepción, located north of the island of La Graciosa. According to marine biologist Pedro J. Pascual, this is an event of great scientific relevance, since it provides novel information that allows us to outline the marine landscape that existed in the Canary Islands when they began to emerge from the ocean floor (during the Miocene, between 23 and 5 million years ago).
"The largest marine predator of all time"
This demonstrates that at that time "the largest marine predator of all time lived, hunted and reproduced in these waters: the Otodus (Megaselachus) megalodon, normally called megalodon, which reached a size of up to 20 meters long and 100 tons in weight".
This shark, now a fossil, lived approximately from 20 million years ago (in the Miocene) to only 2 million years ago (Pliocene). Due to the type of teeth it possessed, it fed on large prey, such as whales, dolphins, seals or other marine mammals. "Large fish and turtles were also part of their diet," the researchers point out, adding that it was "a cosmopolitan species, present in all oceans, and a great migrator."
Evidence from the fossil record shows that small specimens were more frequent in coastal areas and large ones in waters
open and away from the coast. This seems to be related to the fact that certain coastal areas or islands with abundant food were chosen as breeding and rearing areas by these enormous species, which are in great need of large amounts of food for their development.
According to Pascual, "the presence of this super-predator, as well as the other species of sharks, genuine representatives of the upper levels in marine trophic networks, demonstrates the existence of enormous amounts of food such as whales, seals, sirenians or schools of fish in Canary waters at that moment in the history of the Earth."
Another unprecedented discovery
Regarding the existence of Sirenians (manatee or sea cow), it had never been previously recorded in the Canary Islands, so its discovery "provides very valuable information about the ecosystem and type of climate existing during the beginning of the formation of the Canary archipelago."
The discovery occurred during the marine research campaign (INCOECO 1012), carried out by the oceanographic vessel of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) Ángeles Alvariño, in the context of its participation in the LIFE+INDEMARES project Inventory and designation of the Natura 2000 Network in marine areas of the Spanish State, which is led by the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment (MAGRAMA).
The Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) is a public research organization (OPI), dependent on the Secretary of State for Research, Development and Innovation of the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, dedicated to research in marine sciences, especially in relation to the scientific knowledge of the oceans, the sustainability of fisheries resources and the marine environment. The IEO represents Spain in most international scientific and technological forums related to the sea and its resources.
