Megashark fossils discovered in the Canary Islands

Discovery Channel's pseudo-documentary about megalodon — the largest shark to ever swim our oceans — made some pretty bold claims, but back in the realm of serious scientific research about this species, fossil evidence is pointing to this giant shark once living in the area around the Canary Islands.

The megashark fossils were found by a team from the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) in October 2012, around 1,000 metres below the surface of the ocean, at the base of a seamount north of Graciosa Island, called Banco de Concepción. Along with these were found fossils of other extinct sharks, as well as those of sirenia (like the manatee) and whales. The scientists had to wait until now to release their findings, so that they could be sure that the megalodon fossils didn't belong to another species of shark.

"The presence of this super-predator, as well as other shark species, genuine representatives of the higher levels in marine food webs, demonstrates the existence of huge amounts of food such as whales, seals, sirenians or fish stocks in Canarian waters at that time in the history of Earth," said Pedro J. Pascual Alayón, a marine biologist at the IEO's Oceanographic Centre of the Canary Islands, according to a statement.

The discovery of the sirenian fossils is another important part of this find, since they had never been found in this area before, and according to the IEO, it gives the researchers "valuable information on the ecosystem and climate types existing at the start of the formation of the Canary archipelago."

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This announcement comes along just when another amazing shark discovery was made.

A newly-found species of bamboo shark was filmed in Indonesia, as it 'walked' along the sea floor, using its four fins as 'legs' to propel itself along:

This just shows that, when it comes to sharks, we always seem to be making new, amazing discoveries, without having to resort to speculative fiction.

(Photo courtesy: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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