It is the largest shark that ever lived and infamous for its huge teeth. But there is little fossil evidence for the megalodon’s full physique. An international team of researchers has now created a 3D computer model. This also shows the size of the prey that the basking shark could swallow.
The megalodon was 16 meters long, weighed more than 61.5 tons and could swim long distances at an estimated speed of about 1.4 meters per second, researchers at the University of Zurich said in their study Wednesday. His stomach volume should therefore have been almost 10,000 liters and the daily energy requirement was more than 98,000 kilocalories.
Completely digested prey
The basking shark probably covered its energy needs with high-calorie whale fat. It can completely engulf prey up to eight meters in length, which is equivalent to the size of a killer whale today. After such a meal, the megalodon could roam the seas for two months without further food, the scientists said.
“The extinction of the basking shark had an impact on the global food chain and reduced predatory competition for large whales in several waters,” said Catalina Pimiento, a professor at the University of Zurich and co-author of the study.
Reconstruction thanks to well-preserved spine
The new findings are based on 3D modeling of a single specimen that died about 18 million years ago in the Miocene oceans of present-day Belgium. Much of the 46-year-old animal’s spine has been preserved.
Researchers from Switzerland, the UK, the US, Australia and South Africa reconstructed the entire spine and added a 3D scan of a Magalodon denture from the United States. Using 3D scans of today’s great white sharks, the researchers then reconstructed the “flesh” around the skeleton, as the release notes.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
