An oceanographic campaign carried out northeast of the island in 2012 recovered fifteen fossil teeth from one of the largest sharks that have ever existed. The find, at more than a thousand meters deep, provided new clues about the marine fauna that inhabited these waters millions of years ago.
A discovery in the depths
About 75 kilometers northeast of Lanzarote lies the Banco de la Concepción, an underwater mountain whose summit rises to about 150 meters below sea level. Its slopes and escarpments harbor great natural wealth, but also preserve vestiges of a geological and biological history much older than the present.
In October 2012, an oceanographic campaign of the LIFE+ INDEMARES project recovered fifteen fossil teeth attributed to *Otodus megalodon*, popularly known as the megalodon, in this enclave. The operation took place aboard the oceanographic vessel Ángeles Alvariño, at a station located approximately 1,037 meters deep.
The discovery was made public in September 2013. The identification of the specimens involved specialists from the Canary Islands Oceanographic Center and the paleontologist Franco Cigala Fulgosi, from the University of Parma.
Along with these teeth, other remains of marine animals were found, which increased the paleontological interest of the site and offered information about the diversity of species represented in the bank's deposits.
The giant of prehistoric oceans
The megalodon was one of the largest known sharks. Scientific estimates place its maximum length at around 15-20 meters, although the size of specimens varied and their reconstruction depends on the methods used. The teeth recovered from the Banco de la Concepción do not, by themselves, allow for the determination of the dimensions of the animal to which they belonged.
Its skeleton was mainly composed of cartilage, a tissue that fossilizes much less easily than bone. Therefore, teeth are a fundamental source for studying its anatomy, distribution, and evolution. Like other sharks, the megalodon continuously replaced its teeth, some of which became buried in sediments and were preserved for millions of years.
This great predator occupied a prominent position in marine food webs. Studies based on nitrogen isotope analysis have provided evidence of its high position in the food chain, while other research places its extinction approximately 3.6 million years ago. These conclusions refer to the species in general terms and do not establish the exact age of the teeth found in the waters of Lanzarote.
Whales, sirenians, and other sharks
The inventory of the Concepción Bank includes teeth from other sharks, attributed to Paratodus benedeni, Cosmopolitodus hastalis, and Hemipristis serra, in addition to two specimens identified as Isurus sp., without a more precise species-level assignment.
Marine mammal remains were also recovered: a partial skull fragment and a rib from a sirenian, possibly belonging to the genus Metaxytherium; an otic bone from a toothed cetacean; several bone fragments from whales, and two vertebrae from marine mammals, along with other pieces that could not be identified.
The presence of these remains allows us to approximate the diversity of large animals represented in the bank's fossil record. However, their association does not prove that they all lived at the same time or that the marine mammals found were prey for the megalodon.
Researchers suggested that some of the material may have accumulated in deposits formed by sediment flows and landslides from underwater slopes. These processes can transport and concentrate fossils from different locations or periods. Therefore, understanding the history of the site requires studying both the remains and the geological context in which they were deposited.
An underwater mountain of great ecological value
In addition to its paleontological interest, the Concepción Bank is notable for its current biodiversity. The underwater topography, water mass circulation, and variety of habitats favor the presence of corals, gorgonians, sponges, and numerous marine species.
The work carried out within the framework of INDEMARES contributed to expanding scientific knowledge of this area, where over 500 species were cataloged. Its ecological relevance led to its protection within the European Natura 2000 network, aimed at conserving habitats and species of special interest.
The study of this enclave allows, therefore, to address two complementary dimensions: the conservation of the ecosystems it currently harbors and the reconstruction of past marine environments from the fossils that have reached our days.
The unknowns that the deposit still holds
The exact age of the recovered teeth, their origin, and the circumstances in which they became associated with other remains are questions that require specific evidence. The general age of the megalodon should not be confused with the specific dating of each fossil found on the bank.
The depth of the deposit and the complexity of the geological processes that concentrate the remains make their study difficult, but they also explain the interest of future research. New samples and analyses could help to clarify the history of these deposits and to better understand the marine fauna they represent.
Lanzarote's natural heritage is not limited to its volcanic landscapes and coastline. Under the Atlantic, the underwater mountains preserve testimonies of disappeared ecosystems that contribute to reconstructing the evolution of marine life in the Canary Islands.
On October 26, 2023, La Voz de Lanzarote published an article about the megalodon and its presence in the northern part of the island. This anniversary revisits that story and recalls the discovery publicized in 2013: fifteen fossil teeth that opened a window into the prehistoric past of the Canary waters.
Documentary sources
Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO). Characterization of the Concepción Bank. Final report, 2013. LIFE+ INDEMARES Project. "Remains of megalodon, the largest shark in history, found in the Canary Islands," September 2013.
PeerJ (2019). Study on the extinction of the megalodon.
Science Advances (2022). Isotopic research on the trophic position of the megalodon. La Voz de Lanzarote, October 26, 2023. Article on the megalodon and its presence north of Lanzarote.
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