Maryland is on the verge of making history — and not with a cute bird or a quaint sport. No, the Free State is about to crown the Otodus megalodon as its official state shark, because apparently, that's where we are now. It's the first time any U.S. state has adopted an extinct, ocean-munching apex predator as an official symbol. Because, why not?
The bill to immortalize the megalodon just scraped through the legislative session in Annapolis on its final day. After some back-and-forth between the House and Senate, the shark-affirming legislation was tacked onto an already-passed bill. Which, if you think about it, is a pretty fittingly dramatic end for a creature that once dominated the seas.
Now, it's off to Governor Wes Moore's desk. If he signs it, come October 1, the megalodon will officially join the ranks of the Baltimore oriole (state bird) and jousting (state sport). Jousting. And a 60-foot shark. Maryland contains multitudes.
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Start Your News DetoxDelegate Todd Morgan, who championed one of the bills, noted that this wasn't just a bunch of politicians making a whimsical choice. Hundreds of kids, he said, wrote letters and drew pictures. Imagine the legislative offices, suddenly awash in crayon drawings of enormous sharks eating whales. An enjoyable bill, indeed.
Why a Shark That's Been Extinct for Millions of Years?
The megalodon, thankfully, doesn't swim in Maryland's waters today. (Though a casual dip in the Chesapeake might be a bit more exhilarating if it did.) But millions of years ago, the shallow seas covering Maryland were basically the megalodon's all-you-can-eat buffet. These behemoths, up to 82 feet long and weighing 66,000 pounds, snacked on whales, dolphins, and manatees.
Maryland's southern beaches, particularly Calvert Cliffs State Park, are absolutely littered with megalodon fossils — especially their dinner-plate-sized teeth. Citizen scientists and paleontologists regularly unearth these ancient chompers, turning a casual beach stroll into a treasure hunt for prehistoric terror.
Dr. Stephen Godfrey, curator of paleontology at the Calvert Marine Museum, pointed out that no state currently has a state shark. He hopes Maryland will be the first. And honestly, it's hard to argue with recognizing an "iconic animal" that once made the local whale population very, very nervous. Plus, it gives kids a much cooler state symbol than, say, a state rock. Though, to be fair, a megalodon tooth is a rock now. So, win-win.
