Scientists finally learned what caused the extinction of megalodones

Throughout its history, the world has experienced five mass extinctions (or 8, depending on which classification you follow). The worst of them was a great extinction 252 million years ago, caused by catastrophic eruptions of volcanoes and destroyed 96 percent of all species.

Transitional period

However, some "smaller" extinctions, quite understandably, could elude our attention. For example, scientists have long suspected that during the transition period between Pliocene and Pleistocene (about 2.6 million years ago), significant extinction occurred, but it is difficult to determine how catastrophic it was.

Now a new study of scientists from the University of Zurich showed that before the famous megafauna of the planet - woolly mammoths and saber-toothed cats - were affected by many antagonistic factors, the oceans also suffered losses.

This transition between the two geological epochs marked a change in the warm climate and the beginning of a vast glaciation, which apparently caused a rapid drop in the ocean level and significant cooling of the water.

Why the sea megafauna has died out

Based on a new assessment of the fossil record, the scientists concluded that this was enough to kill a surprisingly large number of large marine creatures: a total of one-third of the sea megafauna died out during this transition.

The marine mammals suffered the most damage, having lost 55% of the diversity. In addition, about 35% of seabirds and 43% of sea turtles disappeared. It is noteworthy that during this time only 9 percent of sharks became extinct, but among them was a rather noticeable and important species.

The disappearance of megalodon

We, of course, are talking about megalodone - one of the largest and most terrible predators in the history of the planet, which grew to 18 meters. It is interesting that from time to time on the Web there are arguments that this terrible beast is still hiding somewhere in the depths of the oceans.

Despite all these stories, the scientists clearly determined that these megalodons died out 2.6 million years ago. Since the first discovery of fossil evidence of their existence, scientists have been trying to find out why this happened. Various factors have been proposed, including the collapse of the food chain, excessive competition from other animals, and sudden cooling of the ocean.

Self-destruction of the food chain

The results of a new study on this topic were published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution. Scientists suggest that the loss of biodiversity of coastal habitats due to the decline in sea level was enough to cause a mass extinction, which even the ancient giant shark could not survive. In fact, the cause of extinction of megalodone was a self-destructive food chain.

"The discovery of this extinction event shows that the biological diversity of the marine megafauna is more sensitive to changes that occurred in the environment than previously thought," the scientists write. Then they refer to modern anthropogenic climate change, noting that its "potential consequences for the marine megafauna should not be underestimated."