Megalodon–and More–at Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville

Posted on by Tommy Thompson

I recently saw “The Meg”, a terrible sci-fi movie based around the reemergence of an extinct super-sized shark and its proclivity for biting submarines. Fun, but fiction!

100 million years ago, the “Meg” did exist. It roamed the seas and feasted mainly on large mammals, like whale. Now, all that’s left of it is a historic record which can be viewed at Gainesville’s Florida Museum of Natural History. The exhibit is on view until January 10, 21 and will take about an hour to walk it and read the interactive displays. The museum is free, but there are charges to see this particular exhibit (as well as the Butterfly House). Adult admission is $8, and there a discounts for kids, UF students and seniors. There is a $4 parking charge. COVID precautions are in place, an explanation of fees, and museum hours can be found on the museum website.

The megalodon grew to over 60 feet. At the exhibit you can walk through a large, life-size model
Shark teeth are big…sharp…and always interesting!
Megalodons didn’t mess around with small prey. They ate BIG!
At the megalodon exhibit, you’ll learn about all sharks. There are hundreds of species of these fish, extant and extinct. Some big, some small, but none as big as the “meg”!