# Megalodon fossil rediscovery in Denmark

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/megalodon-fossil-rediscovery-in-denmark
> Updated: 2026-08-13T23:27:35.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

Researchers have rediscovered fossilized vertebrae belonging to the prehistoric shark species Otodus megalodon in Denmark. The specimens, which originated from the Gram Formation and were excavated in 1978, were previously believed to have been destroyed or lost during a 1989 museum relocation.

Analysis of the rediscovered material, including a vertebra measuring approximately 23 centimeters in diameter, has allowed scientists to refine estimates of the species' scale. A study published in Palaeontologia Electronica suggests that these sharks could have reached lengths of approximately 24.3 meters. The findings indicate that newborn megalodons were roughly 3.6 meters long, a size exceeding many modern shark species. Because megalodon skeletons were primarily cartilaginous, these vertebrae provide more accurate data regarding the animal's dimensions than the isolated teeth typically found in excavations.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-13: Megalodon size estimated at 24 meters after fossil rediscovery

Rediscovered fossilized vertebrae in Denmark suggest the prehistoric shark Otodus megalodon could have reached lengths of 24.3 meters, according to a study published in Palaeontologia Electronica.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/megalodon-size-estimated-at-24-meters-after-fossil-rediscovery

### 2026-08-10: Megalodon fossils rediscovered in Danish museum

Lost Megalodon fossils rediscovered in a Danish museum allow scientists to confirm the prehistoric shark could exceed 24 meters in length and live for nearly 100 years.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/megalodon-fossils-rediscovered-in-danish-museum

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Cite as: Megalodon fossil rediscovery in Denmark. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/megalodon-fossil-rediscovery-in-denmark