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MD makes massive, prehistoric creature its official state shark
Take a trip to the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., and you will come face to face with a life-size replica of a megalodon. (USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
MD makes massive, prehistoric creature its official state shark
Listen to this articleMaryland has become the first state to designate the massive, prehistoric megalodon as its official state shark.
State lawmakers approved making the designation on April 14, and Gov. Wes Moore said he will sign the bill passed by the Maryland General Assembly in the 2026 session.
A megalodon, also known by its scientific name of Carcharocles megalodon, was the largest shark to ever exist. It grew up to three times the length of a fierce, modern-day great white shark, and lived roughly 23 to 3.6 million years ago.
Today, megalodon teeth can be found scattered on coastal beaches all across the world. Like its body, their teeth were notably large, often measuring between 3-7 inches in vertical height and supplying them with a powerful bite.
Over the years, the megalodon has appeared in many creature films, such as popular film duology The Meg (2018) and Meg 2: The Trench (2023), as well as Megalodon Rising (2021) and Megalodon: The Frenzy (2023).
In each film, the prehistoric shark is depicted as a horrific, man-eating monster. Pop culture blends science with fiction in order to emphasize the megalodon’s massive size, speed, strength and serrated teeth.
To learn more about the prehistoric megalodon, visit ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/sharks-rays/megalodon.
Reporting by Olivia Minzola, Salisbury Daily Times / USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.
