By J. Jala | 08:25 PM July 02, 2020
A fossil tooth of Megalodon, an ancient shark considered as the largest that ever lived in the world’s oceans, was discovered by a native in Maribojoc, Bohol, the National Museum (NM) in Bohol reported on Wednesday, July 1.
In a Facebook post, the fossil was discovered by Christian Gio Bangalao in Barangay Jandig.
He donated it to the National Museum last May 28, 2020.
The NM-Bohol said it was the second Otodus Megalodon specimen found in the town of Maribojoc.
The first megalodon tooth from the province was found by another local, Venjo Busalla, at Maribojoc’s town plaza in 2018. It is currently on display at the National Museum of Natural History in Manila.
The Megalodons are now extinct but modern shark pups are still observed by local fishermen at Abatan river in Barangay Lincod, Maribojoc, according to the National Museum.
“Megalodons are now extinct. Modern shark pups, however, are still observed by local fishermen at the the mouth of Abatan river in Barangay Lincod in Maribojoc. This could mean that the area could be a nursery for some sharks. Use of estuaries as nurseries is a known aspect of shark behavior. As apex predators, sharks are important in maintaining the balance of our oceans’ ecosystems,” the NM-Bohol said.
