Why megalodon could become Maryland’s state shark

Maryland lawmakers are considering a bill to make the megalodon — the biggest shark that ever lived — Maryland’s state shark.

The curator of paleontology at Calvert Marine Museum, Dr. Stephen Godfrey, with his daughter by his side, recently testified in Annapolis about why the prehistoric predator should become Maryland’s state shark.

“I don’t want people to be afraid of sharks,” he told News4. “I want people to respect sharks, and if we choose an extinct shark, then it doesn’t carry with it the baggage, the fear factor that some living sharks have. So, megalodon is a super good example of a shark that shaped its ecosystem for millions of years, just like modern sharks do today, and so we can make that connection. That’s why it’s so great as an educational tool.”

Why the megalodon?

Twenty million years ago, much of Maryland was submerged under an ocean where megalodons roamed. Today, along the 30 miles of cliffs on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Calvert County, people can still find megalodon teeth — some as large as a human hand.

“It’s this monstrous predator. It has these amazing teeth for rendering its prey,” Godfrey said.

“I want Maryland to be the first state to designate a state shark, but not just any shark,” he said. “I want it to be
megalodon, you know. I love the adage go big or go home. I don’t want the Senate to go home; I want them to recognize what an amazing opportunity this is. I’m afraid that if we don’t do it, there are other states where megalodon is found, and I don’t want to be scooped.”

If the bill isn’t passed within the next few days, supporters would have to start the process all over again next year, which fossil enthusiasts and advocates across Maryland, including Godfrey, say would be a missed opportunity for the state.