Researchers from the University of California, USA, have discovered that megalodons, an extinct species of shark from the Otodontidae family, may actually be “slimmer” than scientists previously thought. Research results published In the journal Palaeontologia electronica (PE).
Because popular culture portrays megalodons as giant, dangerous predators, many people believe that these sharks were actually large in size. It is generally accepted in the scientific community that megalodons could reach 15-20 meters in length and weigh more than 50 tons. This size estimate is approximate.
An international research team led by scientists from the University of California focused on examining the fossilized vertebrae of the megalodon to make their own estimate of the size of sharks of this species. The team compared fossilized megalodon vertebrae with the spinal skeleton of a great white shark measured using tomography.
When the lengths of all the vertebrae were added together, it turned out that the length of the spine of this particular representative of the species was 37 feet (11 m). According to scientists, the body length of the largest megalodons could exceed 15-20 meters. Scientists have also suggested that megalodons actually had a longer body than previously thought. In this respect, they did not resemble “chunky” white sharks.
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