According to groundbreaking new research, the prehistoric Megalodon shark is a creature that has attracted our imaginations in countless movies and books, and it looks like the bulky great white shark, often portrayed as a bulky big shark. Instead, scientists now believe that the body shape of this ancient ocean predator is more streamlined, a revelation that helps explain its achievement of its enormous scale.
A comprehensive study led by Kenshu Shimada, a professor of paleontology at DePaul University, and 28 other experts from nine countries challenged the appearance and biology of Otodus Megalodon, which ruled the ocean from 150 to 3.6 million years ago.
According to a discovery published in the magazine Gushi Yuanxue Electronics, the largest person may have reached an astonishing 24.3 meters (80 feet) length (about the size of a bowling lane), weighing about 94 tons.
“The current length of 24.3 meters is the largest reasonable estimate of O. Megalodon and can be demonstrated based on science and current fossil records,” Shimada works in the Department of Environmental Science and Research and the Department of Biological Sciences, Depaul University.
Rethinking the Ancient Predators
Despite its fame, Megalodon is still surprising to science. Intact bones have never been found, making paleontologists come from the appearance of fossils, vertebrae and scales.
Films like “MEG” often portray prehistoric sharks costing essentially a super-large version of today’s great white sharks. However, the team’s analysis shows that this description is fundamentally incorrect.
Scientists examined the body proportions of 145 modern and 20 extinct shark species to determine how the body parts of Megalong relate to each other. Their work focused on fossil vertebrae in Belgium, about 11 meters (36 feet).
By analyzing the specimen and comparing it with other sharks, they calculated that the head and tail of Megalodon would account for 16.6% and 32.6% of its overall length, respectively. For Belgian specimens, this translates to a head with a dimension of about 1.8 meters (6 feet) and a tail span of 3.6 meters (12 feet) and a total estimated length of 16.4 meters (54 feet).
Tables follow functions
Perhaps the most surprising discovery is that the Megalong may be more rich than the richer great white sharks than the modern lemon shark (with a slimmer, streamlined body).
“Our new research solidifies O. Megalodon not only is a huge version of modern great white sharks, supporting our previous research,” said Phillip Sternes.
This revelation helps explain why some marine vertebrates can reach huge sizes, while others can reach huge sizes. Researchers have observed that today’s largest sharks (whale sharks and bas sharks) and whales have relatively slender bodies. This body size is more fluid dynamically effective in extreme size swimming.
In contrast, great white sharks have a larger inventory, becoming more visible as they grow, with a hydraulic constraint that limits its maximum size to around 7 meters (23 feet).
“Unlike all previous papers on OO Megalodon body shape and shape estimation, a completely new approach is used that relies not only on modern great white sharks.” Jake Wood, another former student at Shimada, added that he is now conducting a doctoral study at Florida Atlantic University.
The life and death of a giant
The study also provides new insights into the life cycle of Megalodon. Growth patterns in vertebral specimens show that sharks were born young, about 3.6-3.9 meters (12-13 feet) long, which is already larger than most adult whites today. Embryos may nourish themselves through the act of eggs or eating eggs.
Based on the morphology of scale, researchers estimate that the Megalodon’s cruising speed is 2.1-3.5 kilometers (1.3-2.2 miles) per hour, which is comparable to today’s sharks, despite its larger size.
The fossil record also reinforces the theory that competition for emerging great white sharks about 5 million years ago may have led to the ultimate extinction of Megaton.
“Many of the explanations we make are still tentative, but they are data-driven and will serve as a reasonable point of reference for future research in O. Megalodon’s biology,” Shimada said.
This study not only reshapes our understanding of one of the most powerful predators in history, but also provides valuable insights into managing the biomechanical constraints of giantism in aquatic vertebrates, a puzzle that has long attracted marine biologists and paleontologists.
For now, viewers may need to adjust their prehistoric sea monster’s psychological image. The evidence suggests that Megalong is a stylish, streamlined giant, not a huge behemoth, but an adaptation that enables it to reach a dimension of continuing awe of the United States for millions of years after it disappeared from the world.
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