A groundbreaking study has revealed that the megalodon, the largest shark to have ever lived, may have grown up to 80 feet long, far exceeding earlier estimates. Previously believed to measure between 50 and 65 feet, new research published in Palaeontologia Electronica suggests the ancient predator’s true size was much larger.
The study, conducted by scientists from 28 countries, also offers fresh insights into the megalodon’s body shape. Unlike the bulky great white shark, the megalodon likely had a more streamlined body, similar to the lemon shark, allowing for more efficient movement through the water.
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“The megalodon wasn’t just a supersized great white,” said Phillip Sternes, an educator at SeaWorld San Diego and co-author of the study. “It was closer in relation to different shark species that are still around today.”
The research also delves into the possible reasons for the megalodon’s extinction around 3 million years ago. The emergence of the great white shark may have played a role, with competition for food resources possibly contributing to the giant shark’s demise.
Using fossilized teeth and vertebrae, the team estimated the megalodon’s length, which could have been up to 15 feet longer than previous calculations. The discovery of vertebrae measuring up to 9 inches in diameter supports the new size estimates, and the study also proposes that newborn megalodons could have been as large as 13 feet at birth.
The research highlights how the megalodon’s massive size, while impressive, may have ultimately hindered its ability to adapt to environmental changes, playing a role in its extinction.
