In the Mexican state of Guerrero, residents of the fishing village of Punta Maldonado have discovered the remains of an ancient shark at the mouth of a river, Mexico News Daily reported.
They told the authorities about the fossils, who reported the remains that surfaced from the bottom of the river to the staff of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).
Experts believe that they belong to one of the representatives of the Otodontidae species - Megalodon - the ancestor of the modern great white shark. But this will be precisely established only after a more thorough study of the fossils.
According to archaeologist Antonio Hermosillo, the discovered ancient creature lived from 1.8-5 million years ago. Its length reached 18 meters, and its weight reached 50 tons. Scientists regret that only the back was found. Since the head is absent, it is difficult to establish the identity of the species based on the results of the first examinations. Paleontologists intend to continue the study of the remains in the laboratory.
According to many paleontologists, megalodons were among the largest predators in the water. Sperm whales, dolphins, whales and sea turtles became their prey.