Megalodon was about two or three times larger than the great white shark we know today. Imagine, a Megalodon was 50 feet (about 15 meters) long with teeth the size of the palm of your hand.
According to some scientists, Megalodon couldn't survive in cold water temperatures. Earth's oceans began cooling about 15 million years ago, and Megalodon preferred warmer waters.
So, it is likely that they could not adapt to the increasingly lower temperatures and had to migrate to warmer tropical areas.
However, another problem arose.
About 3 million years ago, the Isthmus of Panama emerged from beneath the sea and connected North and South America.
As a result, the Megalodon's main migration routes and hunting grounds were blocked. Furthermore, the isthmus's emergence also altered ocean currents and reduced nutrients in the water.
As a result, food sources were reduced for both Megalodon and its prey, especially baleen whales.
In addition, Megalodon also faced stiff competition from other creatures that evolved during the same time period.
For example, great white sharks and orca whales, although smaller, are faster and more intelligent than Megalodon. They can hunt in groups and chase down their prey more efficiently.
Great white sharks and orcas also excel in colder waters, as their bodies have a layer of fat to keep them warm.
In conclusion, the Megalodon's extinction was influenced by a combination of environmental changes, reduced food sources, and increasing competition. The extinction is estimated to have occurred around 2.6 million years ago, near the end of the Pliocene epoch.
After the Pliocene era until now, Megalodon is considered extinct because there is no real evidence to show its existence.