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Researchers in the United Kingdom used computational reconstruction to reveal, for the first time, the size and proportion of the gigantic prehistoric megalodon at different stages of its life.
The megalodon ruled the oceans millions of years ago with its teeth as big as hands and a dorsal fin as large as a six-foot-tall adult human. It was the largest shark and fish on record.
Its scientific name Carcharocles megalodon, means “giant tooth” due to its huge teeth that are almost three times the size of a modern great white shark. The shark’s fossilized bones and teeth helped scientists understand what the creature looked like before it went extinct.
The actual size of the gigantic megalodon shark
Previously, scientists had only estimated the size of a megalodon shark. But a recent study by researchers at the University of Bristol in south-west England and the University of Swansea in South Wales reveals the actual size of the gigantic prehistoric shark for the first time.
The researchers used mathematical calculations to reconstruct the megalodon shark from its rare fossilized remains. They published their research in the magazine Scientific reports September 3.
According to the researchers, the megalodon shark species could grow up to 18 meters (59 feet) and weigh around 48 tons. That is much larger than the sharks that have ever existed and much larger than the great white sharks of today.
(Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
Artistic representation of a 16-meter-long megalodon shark in the Museum of Evolution, Puebla, Mexico. Representation of the 16 meter long Megalodon in the “Museum of Evolution”, Puebla, Mexico
They also said that the megalodon shark has teeth that are as big as human hands, which they believe could have a bite force of more than ten tons, which is five times that of the great white shark with only two tons of bite force. .
It would also have a dorsal fin 1.62 meters in length equal to the height of an adult human, and its tail would have measured up to 3.85 meters. Computational reconstruction also suggests that the 16-meter megalodon would have had a head about 4.65 meters long.
They compared the teeth of modern shark species with those of the megalodon to estimate the size of the gigantic shark, which they believe would grow into adults in proportion. That means the researchers were able to estimate the megalodon growth curve based on modern species.
Lead researcher Jack Cooper, who has a master’s degree in paleobiology from the University of Bristol’s School of Earth Sciences, said the megalodon would have preyed on small whales and pinnipeds, such as seals and sea lions.
He added that fossils of these animals with jagged bites were discovered, suggesting that the megalodon must have eaten them. The megalodon was what inspired Cooper to pursue paleobiology.
Previous research only compares megalodon and great white sharks. But with this new research, it expanded to five more modern species of sharks.
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Megalodon extinction
The 2018 film “The Meg” has brought the gigantic prehistoric shark back to life. However, experts believe that these sharks existed long before modern humans entered the scene.
In 2014, researchers at the University of Zurich studied megalodon fossils and found that the species dates back to the Middle Miocene epoch to the Pliocene epoch or about 15.9 million to 2.6 million years ago.
A small part of their research – roughly 6 out of 10,000 simulations – showed a 1% chance that megalodons could still be alive today. But that possibility is quite slim, and researchers reject the idea of the existence of the megalodon today, as there has been no concrete evidence, and the youngest fossil found dates back to 2.6 million years.
In conclusion, scientists agree that megalodons are long extinct.
READ MORE: Marine life lover bitten by shark in Queensland but still professes love for the creature while awaiting surgery
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