What is the modern paleontological view on the relationship between *Carcharodon carcharias* and *Otodus megalodon*?

They are cousins sharing an ancient ancestor.

Initial hypotheses often suggested a direct evolutionary line where the modern great white shark descended straight from the enormous *Otodus megalodon*. However, contemporary paleontological investigation, particularly detailed analysis of fossilized dental structures, has led to a revised understanding. This scrutiny indicates that the two massive shark types represent related but distinct evolutionary branches, best described as cousins. Both lineages stemmed from a common, though much older, ancestor, but they split long ago. The path taken by *Megalodon* emphasized extreme gigantism, whereas the *Carcharodon* lineage followed a slightly different specialized trajectory, leading to the apex predator seen today.