The giant Megalodon shark went extinct 2.6 million years ago, possibly encouraging the evolution of today's large whales.

It was a massive 60-foot shark and the largest predator in ancient oceans.

Researchers from University of Florida and scientists from University of Zurich analyzed the giant shark's fossils to develop a theory about this mammal being the progenitor of whales.

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The new study suggests the sharks went extinct between the Pliocene and Pleistocene Epochs. This was also the era when baleen whales began to grow into their modern day sizes. It seems the baleens became an important part of the Megalodon's diet.

These Megalodons had a hard time surviving since there wasn't a steady population of marine mammals like whales and dolphins on which they could feed.

Scientists suggest the study could help biologists learn more about the effects of the extinction of the largest of sharks on local environments.

"When you remove large sharks, then small sharks are very abundant and they consume more of the invertebrates that we humans eat," said Catalina Pimiento, a doctoral student at the Florida Museum of Natural History and lead author of the study.

"Recent estimations show that large-bodied, shallow-water species of sharks are at greatest risk among marine animals, and the overall risk of shark extinction is substantially higher than for most other vertebrates."

Recently, there have been rumors large filter-feeder whales still exist in the ocean. Discovery Channel also presented a special episode suggesting these animals might still be roaming remote areas of the ocean.

The study is an in-depth investigation of how the allocation of species may have affected the populations of other marine vertebrates.

It's also an effort to end rumors about the existence of Megalodons today and help other researchers studying other extinct animals and plants.

TagsGiant Megalodon, largest shark, whales, marine vertebrates, animal extinction, Megalodon shark