Book Review: Megalodon

Chapter 10 "When Things Go Wrong (abnormalities in the fossil record)," is also an interesting chapter. Renz provides photographs and information about pathological conditions that a fossil hunter might see in Megalodon teeth, and possible causes. Chapter 11 "Measuring Up-Was Meg the baddest of the bad?" introduces the reader to some other scary extinct animals.

Chapters 1 through 6 are also worth reading, although the quality of the writing is variable. These chapters introduce the reader to Megalodon and its ancestors, as well as some other large sharks that are not directly related to Megalodon. And I did enjoy Renz's Afterword "Why Protect Sharks Today?"

Megalodon includes glossary of terms, a Bibliography, and a list of Meg Related Books, Museums, Web Sites and Fossil Clubs. These references would be a great help to anyone wanting to learn more about Megalodon.

As I said, I was initially a bit disappointed by Megalodon, but the information and photographs provided in Chapters 7 through 10 were enough to make me mostly forgive the faults of the earlier chapters. Megalodon would be a great book for the person who wants to go in search of Megalodon teeth, and needs information of where to go looking for them, and how to identify whether they are indeed from Megalodon or from another shark. Unfortunately, Megalodon is not the book to consult if you are looking for information about the paleobiology and paleoecology of Megalodon. I still recommend the book for its useful information, although I would have liked for it to contain more scientific information.

Mark Renz is also the author of Fossiling in Florida: A Guide for Diggers and Divers, published by the University Press of Florida.

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