Otodus megalodon, commonly known as megalodon, is an extinct species of giant mackerel shark that lived approximately 23 to 3.6 million years ago (Mya), from the Early Miocene to the Pliocene epochs. O. megalodon was formerly thought to be a member of the family Lamnidae and a close relative of the great white shark, but has been reclassified into the extinct family Otodontidae, which diverged from the great white shark during the Early Cretaceous.
Megalodon
Holotype tooth (Fig. 2-3) in Agassiz (1835), cataloged as TE-PLI 18
Megalodon tooth with two great white shark teeth
The great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) and megalodon were previously thought to be close relatives.
The Lamniformes are an order of sharks commonly known as mackerel sharks. It includes some of the most familiar species of sharks, such as the great white, as well as more unusual representatives, such as the goblin shark and megamouth shark.
Lamniformes
Image: Squalicorax 2DB
Image: Aquilolamna milarcae restoration