The most epic battle on Earth: ancient megalodons tore each other apart in the prehistoric ocean.

The ocean covers a vast area of the Earth's surface and is home to an incredible number of species: some thrive today, others remain unknown to science, while some have long since gone extinct. Megalodons belong to the latter group and are regarded as the largest marine predators of all time, instilling fear in the seas, as noted by IFLScience.

It is known that ancient megalodons (Otodus megalodon) reached an astonishing length of 19.8 meters and roamed the world's oceans until their extinction around 3.6 million years ago. Due to the success of Hollywood's portrayal of the megalodon, it is often likened to a gigantic great white shark, but recent research has shown that this ancient predator was likely less bulky and had a more elongated body. Previously, scientists also suggested that megalodons were probably warm-blooded, which may have contributed to the species' extinction.

The teeth of the megalodon are the largest shark teeth ever discovered by geologists. They feature serrated edges, allowing these predators to tear their prey apart. This tooth design left distinctive marks on the bones of their prey, such as whales, enabling scientists to study the diet of these prehistoric hunters.

In a new study, researchers also found evidence of similar marks on four megalodon teeth discovered at fossil sites in North and South Carolina. According to a brief report, some fossilized megalodon teeth exhibit marks that could only have been made by other sharks.

The authors of the study are unsure under what circumstances one megalodon's marks ended up on another predator's teeth, but they speculate that it occurred during a bite. In their work, the team proposed several possible scenarios for how such marks could have been made.

Firstly, the teeth could have remained in the mouth of the shark after being knocked out. In this case, the dislodged teeth might have then been struck and marked by a "closing tooth in place." It is noted that some modern shark species swallow their own teeth, although scientists are still uncertain as to why. It is suggested that this could be a deliberate way to recycle calcium phosphate, or it may happen unintentionally.

Secondly, the teeth could have been marked by the same animal after it bit its prey. It is possible that the teeth were knocked out in the flesh of its food, and then its own teeth scraped against those it had lost.

The third possible scenario is perhaps the most intriguing: scientists believe that megalodons might have fought each other using their teeth. The authors of the study suggest an antagonistic confrontation between two megalodons, possibly during a territorial dispute, feeding, or mating rights struggle. Other plausible reasons include acts of aggression, cannibalism, active predation, or scavenging.

Interestingly, great white sharks can engage in jaw-to-jaw aggression, which may result from territorial aggression or mating disputes. However, scientists note that this behavior is not very well documented, although they do have footage of it.