By By Anne Sewell Sep 3, 2013 in Science A deposit of fossils, thought to belong to the largest-ever marine predator, were found recently off the coast in the Spanish Canary Islands. They have now been confirmed as belonging to a megalodon. Scientists immediately thought that they belonged to the megalodon, but had to wait until recently to determine that the fossils were not from another extinct shark, whale or sea cow species. Now they confirm the finding wIth Spain's Oceanography Institute (IEO) releasing a statement on Monday: "(The discovery of the fossils) is an event of great scientific significance." "They show that the biggest marine predator of all time lived, hunted and reproduced in these waters during that era." IEO scientists believe the Tooth of a megalodon found in Chile. Lonfat The fossils were discovered at the base of an undersea mountain, around 2,000 meters deep, during an ocean research campaign in October 2012.Scientists immediately thought that they belonged to the megalodon, but had to wait until recently to determine that the fossils were not from another extinct shark, whale or sea cow species.Now they confirm the finding wIth Spain's Oceanography Institute (IEO) releasing a statement on Monday: The megalodon is regarded as one of the largest and most powerful predators in vertebrate history. Fossil remains suggest that this giant shark reached a maximum length of 14–18 metres (46–59 ft). Scientists suggest that megalodon looked like a stockier version of the great white shark, weighed 100 tonnes, and ruled the Earth's waters until it became extinct two million years ago.IEO scientists believe the megalodon fed on large prey like whales, dolphins, turtles and seals. To get an idea of the size of the megalodon, the tooth pictured below was found in the Atacama Desert in Chile: More about Spain, Canary islands, islas canarias, Megalodon, Fossils More news from Spain Canary islands islas canarias Megalodon Fossils giant shark