Posted on 03/10/2025 12:12:11 PM PDT by Red Badger
Megalodons likely gave birth to large newborns about 13 feet long, roughly the size of today’s adult shark.
Representational image: Megalodon, a giant prehistoric shark, ruled the oceans millions of years ago.
iStock
Megalodon, a giant prehistoric shark, ruled the oceans millions of years ago.
The conventional view of megalodon as simply a larger version of the great white is now being challenged as new research has uncovered a more complex reality.
Led by Professor Kenshu Shimada of DePaul University, a team of 28 experts from around the world analyzed a nearly complete vertebral column of a megalodon found in Belgium.
The goal was to determine the real size and shape of these prehistoric hunters (Otodus megalodon).
“Our new study has solidified the idea that O. megalodon was not merely a gigantic version of the modern-day great white shark,” said Phillip Sternes, one of the study’s authors.
Prehistoric giant
Megalodon shares some similarities, like serrated teeth, with the present great white shark. That’s why these ancient sharks have often been portrayed as supersized great whites in both scientific research and popular culture, like the film ‘The Meg.’
In this new study, the team analyzed an 11-meter (36-foot) megalodon vertebral column from Belgium. Researchers then sought to determine the complete size of the shark by calculating the missing head and tail lengths based on this vertebral column.
They compared the body proportions of numerous shark species, both living and extinct, to estimate the megalodon’s missing body parts. It was concluded that the megalodon’s head likely comprised about 16.6% and its tail around 32.6% of its total length.
The team estimated the missing head to be 1.8 meters (6 feet) and the tail 3.6 meters (12 feet). This resulted in a total estimated length of 16.4 meters (54 feet) for that specific megalodon specimen.
Interestingly, other larger vertebrae found in Denmark suggest that individuals could have reached an astonishing 24.3 meters (80 feet).
“The length of 24.3 meters is currently the largest possible reasonable estimate for O. megalodon that can be justified based on science and the present fossil record,” said Shimada.
The study also sheds light on other aspects of the megalodon’s biology.
A 24.3-meter individual would have weighed around 94 tons with cruising speed at 2.1-3.5 km/h (1.3–2.2 miles/h /h) — similar to a great white.
They likely gave live birth to large newborns about 3.6-3.9 meters (12–13 feet).
VIDEO AT LINK...............
Slender body shape for efficient swimming
In terms of body shape, the megalodon likely had a more slender build, similar to a modern lemon shark, rather than the stocky form of a great white.
This slender form is key for efficient swimming at such massive sizes.
Slender bodies have also been found in other large aquatic animals like whale sharks, basking sharks, and whales. On the other hand, bulky forms become inefficient in water at large sizes.
Great white sharks, with their stocky build that increases with size, are limited to a maximum length of 7 meters (23 feet) due to hydrodynamic limitations.
This observation reveals why some aquatic animals can reach immense sizes while others, like the great white, are constrained, thus solving a long-standing mystery.
About 5 million years ago, the emergence of the great white shark likely contributed to the megalodon’s extinction due to competition.
In the press release, Professor Shimada acknowledges that the study’s preliminary conclusions are based on solid data. He hopes a complete skeleton will eventually be found to validate their findings.
They do in the movies!!
C’mon man!!
😃🤣🤣🤣😄
Probably can't spell chondricthes.
Not sure i can anymore. Lol!
Most everything below the photic zone is below one or more thermoclines. 😉
OK, OK, it’s Chondrichthyes.
Had to look up the spelling. Been a few years.
Takes a lot of calories to keep one of those going. Why didn’t whales go extinct?
Although more rare than fossil bone, fossil cartilage and other soft and fragile materials are sometimes found, including entire invertebrates and bits like skin, dung, scales, feathers, eggs, plants, spores and pollen, and fruit. My guess is that an entire fossil Megalodon will eventually be found or assembled.
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