The Canary Islands boast a fascinating chapter in their marine history, as they were once home to the megalodon, one of the Earth’s largest marine predators, around 4.8 million years ago.
This colossal creature outstripped even the great white shark in terms of size. Measuring an impressive 20 meters in length, which is equivalent to the size of a large baby carriage, and weighing a staggering 100 tonnes—three times the weight of a white shark—this marine giant ruled the depths of the Canary Islands during prehistoric times.
In 2013, the Spanish Institute of Oceanography made a remarkable discovery when they found 15 fossil megalodon teeth on the seabed of Banco de La Concepción, located to the north of Lanzarote. These fossils provided substantial evidence of the presence of these gigantic creatures in the archipelago.
One of these teeth, comparable in size to a human hand, is proudly displayed at the Canarian Museum in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, captivating both visitors and scientists alike.
This discovery has opened the door to the possibility of more megalodon fossils being scattered across the seabed of the Canary Islands, potentially offering fresh insights into prehistoric marine life in the region.
Researchers are eagerly anticipating future research and discoveries that could provide a more comprehensive understanding of the ancient marine fauna that once inhabited this corner of the Atlantic.
