If you thought T. rex was BIG, wait ‘til you meet Megalodon…

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – You may have seen the movie Jaws – but you’ve never seen jaws like these. They belonged to a 60-foot-long behemoth, whose giant mouth bristled with 276 teeth. MOSH tells the remarkable story of this prehistoric shark that ruled the seas in the national traveling exhibit, Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived, opening Memorial Day Weekend, May 24, 2014.

As unique as Megalodon was, so too is the exhibition that tells the story of this enormous creature. Visitors enter a full-sized (60-feet-long) sculpture of Megalodon through massive jaws and discover this shark’s history and the world it inhabited, including its size, structure, diet, lifespan, relatives, neighbors, evolution and extinction.

Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived showcases fossil and modern shark specimens and provides details on improving the health of our oceans and survival of threatened species. Recent worldwide declines are attributed to commercial and sport overfishing. Scientists estimate humans kill 100 million sharks, skates and rays each year, and the life history of most shark species makes it difficult for populations to rebound.

Another exhibition section describes how this animal continues to fascinate many, elevatingMegalodon to near cult status. From biker jackets to postage stamps, the exhibition explains the many ways Megalodon remains a part of human culture through art, literature, music and film.

Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived was produced by the Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, with support from the National Science Foundation. The exhibit is sponsored locally by BUZZ, First Coast News, The Florida Times-Union, Jax4Kids.com, Dr. Harry Lee, and Suddath.  It will be on display at MOSH May 24 through August 31, 2014.

The Museum of Science & History (MOSH) is located at 1025 Museum Circle near Friendship Park. MOSH, first chartered in 1941, inspires the joy of lifelong learning by bringing to life the sciences and regional history.  Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Thursday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; and 12 to 5 p.m. Sunday.  Admission is $10 for adults; $8 for students, active and retired military and seniors; and $6 for children ages 3 through 12.  There is no admission fee for children 2 and under or museum members. Admission is $5 on Fridays.  Learn more at themosh.org.