Introduction to Megalodon
15 million years before the release of films like Jaws and Open Water, which instilled fear in swimmers, a prehistoric shark species known as Otodus megalodon reached enormous sizes. Recently, researchers have reevaluated the enormity of this now-extinct creature, and the findings are astounding.
Reassessing Megalodon’s Size
To refine estimates of megalodon’s size, an international team of biologists, paleontologists, and anatomists analyzed partial fossils of megalodon alongside the morphology of existing and extinct shark species. Based on this data, they extrapolated that the prehistoric shark could have grown up to a maximum size of 80 feet (24 meters) in length. The study, published in the journal Palaeontologia Electronica, offers insights into why certain shark species achieve gigantism while others remain relatively small.
Methodology and Findings
Led by paleobiologist Kenshu Shimada of DePaul University, the team compared the megalodon’s spine to the bodily proportions of 145 living shark species and 20 extinct shark species. Using a 36-foot (11-meter) fossilized megalodon vertebral column discovered in Belgium, they estimated that a megalodon with a 36-foot-long spine would have had a 6-foot-long (1.8-meter-long) head and 12-foot-long (3.6-meter-long) tail, totaling 54 feet in length.
Estimating the Largest Megalodon
The researchers applied these proportions to an assumed megalodon vertebrae found in Denmark, one of the largest ever discovered. The team concluded that this Danish shark would have been approximately 80 feet long (24.3 meters) and weighed 94 tons.
[Image: An illustration of the 80-foot (24.3 meter) megalodon. Courtesy of DePaul University/Kenshu Shimada]Understanding Megalodon’s Appearance
Since a complete skeleton has never been found, scholars can only study the prehistoric beast by analyzing partial remains and comparing them to other shark species. The new study has solidified the idea that O. megalodon was not merely a gigantic version of the modern-day great white shark. Instead, it may have resembled a slimmer shark, similar to the lemon shark.
Theoretical Implications
The researchers theorized that the megalodon’s slender form would have been more hydrodynamic, allowing it to swim efficiently. This realization led them to hypothesize that bulky marine vertebrates, such as great white sharks, cannot grow to enormous sizes without changing their physical form.
Conclusion and Future Studies
While the team’s data-driven approach was necessary, it involved some guesswork and assumptions. Shark body proportions vary dramatically, and comparing them may not lead to accurate conclusions. Future fossil discoveries will be crucial in confirming the team’s findings. Additionally, the study revealed that today’s great white shark may have contributed to the megalodon’s extinction 5 million years ago.
Final Thoughts
The discovery of megalodon’s enormity is a reminder of the awe-inspiring creatures that once inhabited our oceans. While it’s reassuring that megalodons no longer exist, the study’s findings serve as a reminder of the complex and fascinating history of our planet’s marine life.
Source Link
