Could the mighty megalodon still swim in the deep sea? Here’s what science has to say.

The legendary megalodon may be extinct—but that hasn’t stopped speculation that it still lurks in the deepest reaches of our oceans. 

Despite no verified sightings in over 3 million years, this 50-foot prehistoric shark continues to spark the imagination through books, films, and deep-sea lore. 

Some point to mysterious deep-sea finds, such as large teeth recovered in the 19th century from depths near Tahiti, as possible evidence that the Meg may have survived. 

But according to scientists, including shark researcher Kenshu Shimada, megalodons were coastal hunters dependent on warm, shallow waters and a diet of marine mammals—conditions that the ocean depths cannot provide.

Modern research strongly suggests that megalodon’s extinction was driven by changing ocean temperatures, declining prey populations, and competition from evolving species like the great white shark. And if a Meg had somehow adapted to deep-sea life, it would need a drastically different physiology—likely small, sluggish, and unrecognizable from the cinematic monster we imagine. Unlike known deep-sea giants like the giant squid, megalodon has left no trace in recent oceanic surveys or strandings. Still, the enduring mystery and the sheer size of the unexplored ocean keep the fantasy alive. While paleontologists agree the Meg is gone, its fossil record and cultural legend ensure it will always swim in our collective curiosity.