What evolutionary strategy did the *Carcharodon* line focus on compared to *Megalodon*'s path?

Refinement and ecological efficiency

The evolutionary paths taken by the *Carcharodon* lineage and the *Megalodon* lineage demonstrate a fundamental contrast in long-term survival strategy over deep geological time. While *Megalodon* pursued an extreme trajectory focused primarily on maximizing sheer physical size to become the largest predator possible, the ancestors of the great white appear to have prioritized specialization and efficiency within a moderately large body framework. This focus involved the gradual refinement of tools, such as developing the optimized dental architecture for cutting, and building a more robust body plan. This sustained adaptability suggests that specialized tools for varying ecological niches can offer more durable long-term success than merely maximizing bulk alone.