Shark submarine. Is the mysterious predator megalodon alive? Megalodon - giant extinct shark
It finally became extinct more than a million years ago. The name of the species was given by their huge, amazing jaws with five rows of sharp teeth. It's hard to believe that Megalodon was once the terror of the oceans, and its huge saw teeth gave it an advantage over all marine fauna.
Prehistoric carnivorous sharks ate not only whales - they did not disdain manatees, dolphins, sperm whales and seals, and in their youth, most mega-fry hunted exclusively for large and very large fish.
When did the prehistoric shark live?
The superpredator megalodon shark is considered the closest relative of the more modern predator - the great white shark. Some scientists, however, are skeptical about such a relationship and insist on the common roots of megalodon and now extinct representatives of the family Otodontidae.
The prehistoric megalodon shark successfully hunted the same huge “game” - sperm whales and whales of the Pleistocene era. The existence of the giant monster is still shrouded in mystery. The details of the life cycle of megalodons are also unknown for certain, since bones and teeth of young individuals are almost never found among the fossilized remains of the sea giant. Scientists have never encountered a shark larger than a megalodon or its fossil remains.
The above facts are indisputable at present, but everything can change after the next excavations, sensational finds and published scientific works.
How did the ancient shark become extinct?
About 1.5-2 million years ago a chain of irreversible climate change, as a result of which many species of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles disappeared.
Surprisingly, the largest and most powerful predator of that period - the giant megalodon shark - was unable to adapt to environmental variability.
Megalodons lived the longest in the warmer southern hemisphere of the planet at that time. Scientists associate the extinction of the species with the appearance of huge glaciers - because of this, not only did the directions of the currents change, but they also practically disappeared warm seas on the shelves. In such reservoirs the megalodon shark preferred to hunt its prey. Sperm whales and whales, which were the main “game” for sharks, were able to adapt, successfully “migrating” to distant and cold waters rich in plankton, and therefore have survived to this day.
Ancient sharks (megalodon) could have gone extinct for a more prosaic reason. Relatively small predators - killer whales, which appeared in the Pliocene era, successfully and en masse exterminated the young giants. To grow to the size of an adult, megalodon fry needed years and decades. Killer whales have disrupted the status quo by eating virtually defenseless juvenile sharks.
The giant predators were unable to cope with the more agile and cunning killer whales and were unable to protect their species, like many other prehistoric giants.
What did the ancient shark look like?
What does a megalodon shark look like? Huge and very, very impressive. Megalodons differed from their large white “cousin” by a flatter head shape. The flat muzzle and closely spaced eyes most likely made prehistoric sharks unpleasant and frightening - the “pig snout” of a carcass weighing several tens of tons can scare anyone. The unusual structure of the skeleton was necessary so that predators could hunt huge waterfowl mammals with strong bones and equally hard skin without injury.
The size and shape of the ancient superpredator is amazing modern people. Many scientists at first did not believe in the existence of such giants. The skeletal anatomy, size of the mouth, structure of the teeth and overall weight of the megalodon make it an outstanding creation of nature.
More than 40 tons of weight and 16 m of length are not the limit; experts have no doubt about the existence of larger remains. Photographs of eighteen-centimeter teeth that have flown around the world have made it possible to compare megalodons with killer whales, sperm whales and whales. Later research proved that megalodon was much, much larger than any modern ocean inhabitant.
How and who did the largest shark, the megalodon, hunt?
Studies of vertebrae, skeletons and jaws even made it possible to draw conclusions about the method of hunting. Most likely, in a duel “megalodon versus white shark,” the first predator will simply swallow the second and not even notice. For example, megalodons hunted ancient cetaceans and sperm whales in the following way: if the prey was relatively small, then with one swift attack, the bite of giant teeth, the monster literally tore out huge pieces of flesh and broke bones, as a result of which the “game” died from terrible injuries and internal bleeding .
Large whales that appeared in the Pliocene era demanded new tactics and strategies. The megalodon shark was able to adapt to larger fish - predators of such cetaceans simply tore off swimming limbs with their huge jaws with five rows of teeth. Bleeding and immobilized prey became dinner for the predator.
The largest shark - megalodon - left people with many reminders of itself on the fossil bones of Pliocene cetaceans.
Megalodon in modern times
In the mid-50s. 20th century The ship "Rachel Cohen" arrived at the docks of a major international port - Adelaide. The ship needed a major overhaul, which promised to be lengthy and very difficult.
Cleaning is a common procedure before repair; All plating located below the waterline - the sides and bottom (underwater parts of the ship's hull) - must be cleaned.
The result of the cleanup was the discovery of unknown fossil artifacts, which scientists later recognized as the teeth of the largest and most formidable predator - the megalodon. The huge 17 fossils presented specialists with many surprises, the first of which was their approximate age.
However, respectable professors did not pay attention to the find, but cryptozoologists and ufologists of all stripes began to intensively search for the fish, and the newspapers of that time were full of headlines “Megalodon shark is alive!”
Does Megalodon Exist Now?
Thoughts about the existence of giant sharks in the depths of the ocean in the 20th century did not leave the inquisitive minds of scientists and the “experts in the unknown” who joined them. Some ichthyologists and paleontologists began to dig in all directions, thanks to which from the 60s. Many fossilized teeth and vertebrae of megalodons were found, as well as imprints of their terrible jaws on the bones of whales.
Whether the discovery of teeth in Adelaide was a hoax is not known for certain. Man still knows very little about the World Ocean, and to some of its corners modern technologies It won't take long to get there.
Megalodon - a monster shark - may well lurk in the depths and suddenly appear in the face of stunned humanity, like a jack-in-the-box.
Where is Megalodon hiding?
A huge colossus weighing 47 tons is unlikely to be able to “sneak” past modern radars and other technological devices - scientists console ordinary people.
But stubborn facts - finds and encounters - indicate that the megalodon monster shark is alive and well, it’s just that humans have not yet reached its habitat.
Among the possible places, the Mariana Trench is often mentioned, because no one knows what is really happening there. Today, only a few cryptozoologists remain faithful supporters of theories about the existence of an entire population of prehistoric predators. However, the latter, as they should be, have not yet been able to prove anything.
The mysterious megalodon is sometimes encountered on the route of research and fishing vessels, but from unclear photographs and video recordings it is impossible to say for sure what kind of sea giant rushed past the frightened people.
Megalodon and man
Photographs of the skeletons and jaws of huge sea predators suggest that humanity arose for a reason after these cute fish finally disappeared from the face of the Earth.
Humans and megalodons have most likely never seen each other face to face. It is unknown how the prehistoric predator at the very top food chain, would react to its direct competitor in the ocean.
The closest known relatives of megalodons - great white sharks - do not disdain human flesh at all, although their attacks cannot be called systematic. Ichthyologists still do not know what makes sharks attack - an innate bad character, poor eyesight, gastronomic preferences, or completely other reasons unknown to us.
For prehistoric megalodons (at least adults), humans are small prey, unworthy of attention. But with the cubs of ancient predators, not everything is so smooth. According to research results, the latter, at certain periods of their adolescence, ate fish and small marine mammals. In terms of size and weight, a person can easily be mistaken for a seal or the baby of another animal, which means there is likely gastronomic interest on the part of the young of ancient giant sharks.
Last encounter with megalodon
Famous ichthyologist David Stead of the 20th century once wrote a book based on his many years of observations of marine life. The rather controversial facts that he cited in his work formed the basis of many modern theories about the existence of extinct species.
In particular, it was Stead’s books that prompted many scientists and pseudoscientists of our time to think about the possible existence of megalodon side by side with humans.
The meeting with the unknown, according to D. Stead, took place in 1918. There was no constructive dialogue between the fishermen and the prehistoric giant, and they separated like ships at sea.
Upon arriving at the scene, Stead heard a horror story about a horror from the deep that sailed past and left the lobstermen silent and gray. The meeting took place near Bruton, when the fishermen went fishing - checking traps and collecting caught prey.
Following a set and practiced routine, the divers plunged into the sea to inspect the nets and attach full traps to the boats.
Suddenly, the people remaining on the deck noticed a huge shadow under the water, and a few seconds later the scuba divers literally jumped out of the water with wild screams.
Divers described in great detail a giant monster with a pig's snout, which non-stop devoured prey along with nets and iron cages. Thick ropes and even an anchor chain could not stop the creature - the ash-white giant, dozens of times larger than any shark they had seen, easily cut through the chains.
According to the testimony of frightened but living eyewitnesses, the size of the creature in the water was about 30-35 meters; the huge head of the creature, larger than the average boathouse, especially struck the imagination of the fishermen.
Like a true scientist, David Stead did not immediately believe the fable, mistaking the story for good old fishing tales. But after much thought, the ichthyologist came to the conclusion that such an invention requires not only imagination and a lot of free time, but also good knowledge of paleontology. Ordinary fishermen hardly knew about latest news from paleontological excavations, and ancient fossils are probably the last thing lobster fishermen are interested in.
Since Stead did publish this adventure in his work, there is still no need to rush to dismiss the possibility of the existence of a prehistoric superpredator in the 20th century.
Prehistoric megalodon shark and relatively “fresh” fossils
Based on the results of numerous examinations, studies, experiments and analyses, conclusions and headlines like “There is a monster shark! Megalodon is alive and found! - complete nonsense.
However, frightening discoveries that are found around the world indicate the possibility that a small error has crept into the calculations of the outstanding minds of mankind.
The teeth, found in the Tahiti region and the Baltic, belonged to individuals that lived only 11,000 years ago. The declared period of extinction of megalodons is 1.5-2 million years ago. Relatively young age remains may indicate the mysteries that the ocean still hides.
Does the megalodon shark exist somewhere in the deep? It's very possible. Sperm whales and whales are equipped by nature to dive safely and systematically to great depths. Perhaps the ancient megalodon had similar “devices” that helped it hunt large fish.
White shark and megalodon: main differences
The white shark and megalodon differ not only in size and shape. The main difference between the second is considered to be a much stronger structure of the skeleton and jaws and a powerful backbone. According to the results of recent studies, megalodons had almost the greatest bite force - tens of times more than that of a modern white shark. Zoologist Stephen Uro compared the bite power of megalodon with that of other superpredators - tyrannosaurs and deinosuchus.
Such significant differences in the anatomy of two similar “relatives” are easily explained - different conditions existence, methods of hunting and its main objects.
The relationship between sharks and megalodons has not been proven, and there are no answers to other questions about the habitat of the prehistoric predator and the causes of extinction.
What Megalodon and its distant ancestors looked like, what it ate, and where they lived are complex questions; unambiguous answers to them can only be obtained by finding confirming or refuting modern theories facts. Scientists continue to argue about megalodons, and archaeological sites continue to contain ambiguous, controversial, or even counterintuitive evidence.
Megalodon is the largest shark to ever live on Earth, as well as the largest marine predator in the history of the planet, significantly larger in size than modern white sharks and ancient marine reptiles such as Liopleurodon and Kronosaurus. This article presents the most Interesting Facts about megalodon, which can capture any imagination.
1. Megalodon could grow up to 18 m in length
Due to the paucity of megalodon bones found, its exact size has been a matter of debate for a long time. Based on tooth size and analogies with modern white sharks, the estimated body length of megalodon has varied over the last century from 12 to 30 m, but according to recent estimates, paleontologists have reached a consensus that adults were about 16-18 m long and weighed 50-75 T.
2. Megalodon loved to snack on whales
Megalodon's diet lived up to its reputation as a super predator. Throughout the Pliocene and Miocene eras, these giant sharks' diet included prehistoric whales, dolphins, squid, fish, and even giant turtles (whose tough shells couldn't withstand a 10-ton bite). Perhaps the megalodon even crossed paths with the giant prehistoric whale Melville's leviathan, which was not inferior in size.
3. Megalodon had the strongest bite in the entire history of the Earth
In 2008, a joint research team from Australia and the United States used computer modeling to calculate the bite power of a megalodon. The results obtained can only be described as incredible: while a modern white shark clenches its jaws with a force of about 1.8 tons, megalodon victims experienced jaws with a force of 10.8-18.2 tons (enough to crush the skull of a prehistoric whale so as light as grapes, and much stronger than the bite of the well-known Tyrannosaurus Rex).
4. Megalodon teeth had an oblique length of up to 19 cm
It’s not for nothing that megalodon means “big tooth” in Latin. These prehistoric sharks had simply gigantic teeth that reached up to 19 cm in diagonal length (for comparison, the teeth of a great white shark have a slanted length of about 5 cm).
5. Megalodon cut off its fin before killing its prey
At least one computer simulation has confirmed that megalodon's hunting style was different from modern white sharks. While the white shark attacks soft fabrics of its prey (such as the underbelly or legs of a diver), megalodon teeth were ideal for biting through tough cartilage. There is also some evidence that before killing their prey, they first cut off its fins, making it impossible for them to swim away.
6. A possible modern descendant of megalodon is the white shark
The classification of megalodon causes a lot of debate and different points of view. Some scientists argue that the closest modern relative The ancient giant is the white shark, which has a similar body structure and some habits. However, not all paleontologists agree with this classification, arguing that megalodon and the great white shark acquired striking similarities as a result of the process of convergent evolution (the tendency of dissimilar organisms to adopt similar body shapes and behaviors when developing under similar conditions. A good example convergent evolution is the similarity of ancient sauropod dinosaurs with modern giraffes).
7. Megalodon was significantly larger than the largest marine reptiles
The aquatic environment allows apex predators to grow to enormous sizes, but none was more massive than the megalodon. Some giant marine reptiles Mesozoic era, such as Liopleurodon and Kronosaurus, weighed about 30-40 tons, and the maximum of a modern white shark is about 3 tons. The only marine animal that surpasses the 50-75-ton megalodon is the planktivorous blue whale, which can weigh an incredible 200 tons.
8. Megalodon's teeth were once thought to be stones
Thousands of sharks' teeth constantly fall out throughout their lives, being replaced by new ones. Given the megalodon's global distribution (see next point), its teeth were discovered throughout the world centuries ago. But it wasn't until the 17th century that a European doctor named Nicholas Steno identified the strange stones as shark teeth. For this reason, some historians credit Steno with the title of the world's first paleontologist!
9. Megalodon Was Distributed Around the World
Unlike some sharks and marine reptiles of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras, whose habitat was limited to coastlines or inland rivers and the lakes of some continents, megalodon had a truly global distribution, terrorizing whales in the warm waters of oceans around the world. Apparently, the only thing that kept adult megalodons from approaching coastline was their gigantic size, making them helpless in shallow waters like 16th century Spanish galleons.
10. Nobody knows the reason for the extinction of megalodon
Megalodon was the largest, ruthless apex predator of the Pliocene and Miocene eras. Something went wrong? Perhaps these giant sharks were doomed by global cooling as a result of the last ice age, or the gradual disappearance of the giant whales that make up the bulk of their diet. By the way, some people believe that Megalodon is still lurking in the depths of the oceans, but there is absolutely no authoritative evidence to support this theory.
How big was Megalodon and how much did it weigh?
Megalodon ( Carcharocles megalodon"big tooth") is the largest predatory shark in the history of the Earth. They have tried to estimate the size of prehistoric fish more than once. In 1909, when the megalodon's jaw was first reconstructed, scientists estimated the shark's body length to be 30 meters. Today's advances in vertebrate biology and new discoveries of megalodon remains have reduced the estimated size by half. Using different methods of studying the teeth of a predator, we obtain a body length from 13 to 18 meters. Only in 2015, after studying a large sample of teeth, an average length of 10 meters and a maximum of 15 meters was obtained. By comparison, a great white shark can theoretically reach seven meters in length. The size of megalodon is close to the largest marine reptiles of the Mesozoic, such as mosasaurs and ichthyosaurs.
Why are shark teeth used when estimating size, rather than parts of its skeleton? Because sharks are cartilaginous fish. That is, their skeleton consists not of bones, but of cartilage. Cartilage is poorly preserved. They decompose before they turn to stone. So we have almost no remains of megalodon, except for teeth.
For a long time, the mass of megalodon remained a subject of debate. It is difficult to draw conclusions about mass based only on the teeth of an animal. The lack of remains of the giant predator prevented accurate estimates. If we reconstruct the megalodon based on the build of a white shark, we will get a body mass of 41 to 47 tons. But we can compare the dimensions of megalodon and whale shark to draw conclusions about the mass of extinct fish. This method reduces the weight to 30 tons. All the same, with such a mass, the predator must have consumed a colossal amount of food, more than a ton per day. While studying the fossils of whales, the same age as the megalodon, it became clear where the shark got so much food from. Many skeletal remains of large marine mammals had characteristic lesions consistent with the profile and size of megalodon teeth.
How big were megalodon teeth and what was the size of the largest specimen found?
Giant shark teeth are found all over the world. Their average size varies from 10 to 13 cm. These sizes are already impressive, since the teeth of a great white shark are only 7 cm long. However, several megalodon teeth have been found that are more than 17 cm long. The largest megalodon tooth found was as much as 19 cm.
In 1843, when the megalodon was first described, it was placed in the genus Carcharadon, which includes the great white shark. Two huge sharks, with large jagged teeth - they are probably related. But time passed, science developed, and the fossil record was filled in. Today, shark taxonomy looks different than it did a century and a half ago. The evolutionary paths of the white shark and megalodon diverged more than 60 million years ago.
Megalodon is believed to have the most powerful bite in the history of fish. Its giant jaws could clamp down on a victim with a monstrous force of 109 kN. This is three times stronger than today's record holder - saltwater crocodile. In terms of bite force, megalodon is inferior to Tyrannosaurus (more than 200 kN) and Deinosuchus (more than 350 kN).
How many teeth did megalodon have?
Do not forget that the megalodon's jaw was lined with a huge number of sharp teeth. Predators like sharks tend to have a large number of teeth. The old ones break down and wear out, while new ones are on the way. The giant's two-meter jaw had more than 270 teeth arranged in five rows. Triangular serrations on them, the same as those of a white shark, indicate a similar feeding pattern. Megalodon did not swallow its prey, just as the great white shark does not. Sharp and strong teeth more than 10 cm long literally sawed off huge pieces of flesh from unlucky victims.
Of course, when talking about megalodon, one cannot ignore its teeth as valuable specimens for collectors. The fact is that sharks' teeth fall out regularly and are well preserved. Today, megalodon has been well studied, and there is no end to the findings. Small teeth cost little and can be interesting and an unusual gift. But samples from 16 centimeters are already very expensive and can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
But size is not the only factor that determines cost. It is also affected by preservation and color. The larger the size, the more difficult it is to find a well-preserved specimen. The most expensive teeth are considered to be large, impeccably preserved teeth, which are usually classified as “museum quality.”
Causes of extinction
The warm ocean and the enormous abundance of food made the megalodon a very successful predator. Remains of the ancient shark have been found in North and South America, Europe, Africa, as well as Puerto Rico, Cuba, Jamaica, the Canary Islands, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Malta, the Grenadines and India. But what led the megalodon to success was also its death: 2.6 million years ago, the planet’s climate began to change dramatically, the oceans cooled. The large fauna was dying out, and the giant predator simply had nothing to eat. The influence of other top predators, such as killer whales, cannot be ruled out. Today, a white shark weighing 1-2 tons is breakfast for young killer whales. But, most likely, megalodon became extinct due to a complex of reasons that unfortunately fell on its head.
In 1954, the Australian ship Rachel Cohen was undergoing major repairs at one of the Adelaide docks. The repairs began with “spring cleaning.” We started cleaning the bottom of the ship from shells, and discovered 17 huge teeth stuck in the hull. Each one measures 8 by 10 cm.
In the entire history of the Earth, only one “fish” could boast of such teeth - megalodon. One problem: it became extinct 1.5 million years ago. Or not?
26.5 million years old giant bloodthirsty shark, known as megalodon(Carcharodon megalodon), reigned in the world's oceans. Nature has never created anything more terrible. According to scientists, the length megalodon reached from 20 to 30 meters! And it weighed from 50 to 100 tons. His favorite foods were sperm whales and baleen whales, which he snacked on, as they say, at a time.
Can you imagine the size of the mouth of this monstrous fish if a 10-meter whale was an ordinary hunting object for it? These super predators were at the top of the food chain. And, so to speak, they kept all aquatic inhabitants in fear.
The huge teeth, which are found throughout the ocean, indicating an incredibly wide distribution of megalodons, are triangular in shape and resemble sharks. The only difference is in scale. The tooth of the largest - the great white shark - does not exceed 6 cm. While in the megalodon the most modest “fang” reaches 10 cm, but the usual size for them is 17-18 cm.
Actually, using these teeth, scientists were able to approximately recreate the appearance and size of the predator, because the largest individuals were female - “megalodonichus”. First, they reconstructed the jaw, and then the “figure,” taking into account the fact that the closest relative of megalodons is the great white shark. The result was a kind of “great white”, only more “big-boned”, and also addicted to steroids: the frightening-looking skeleton now flaunts in the Maryland Maritime Museum (USA).
It is simply impossible to pass by and not shudder in horror. A wide skull, massive jaws and a short, blunt snout are an unattractive appearance. As ichthyologists joke, “it’s obvious megalodon was a pig." Next to this giant, a person feels like just a grain of sand. And looking at a 2-meter jaw with 5 rows of teeth makes you shiver. You can’t help but be glad that these monsters are no longer in the ocean.
But is it really not? This is just a big question.
From a geological point of view, animals are considered extinct if no signs of their presence are found for more than 400,000 years. However, let's not forget about the Australian ship Rachel Cohen: tests showed that the teeth found in the bottom of the ship actually belonged to a megalodon. Okay, let's say it was a hoax. But what about the findings of paleontologists and ichthyologists?
The last teeth of megalodons, discovered in the vicinity of Tahiti and in our Baltic Sea, were dated almost as “youthful” - they were given 11 thousand years. They didn't even have time to petrify properly! Feel the difference: 1.5 million - and 11 thousand years! Don't forget to take into account the fact that only 10% of the world's oceans have been studied. So it may turn out that somewhere out there - in the depths - there are also these “charming fish”.
Would you say that such giant sharks could not go unnoticed? Leave your pride behind. The deep-sea shark known as the greatmouth shark was only discovered by humanity in 1976. And this was completely by accident: one individual got stuck in the anchor chain of a research vessel in the waters near the island of Oahu (Hawaii). 36 years have passed since then, but during all this time the largemouth shark was seen only 25 times - and then only in the form of corpses on the coast.
The goblin shark, also known as the goblin shark, discovered its presence in the world's oceans in 1897. And before that it was considered long ago and hopelessly extinct.
AND whale shark people first “found” it in 1828, until then remaining blissfully unaware of its existence.
In addition, no one has scanned the World Ocean. And to the coast megalodon will never come closer - its impressive size will not allow it. So this one shark leads a deep-sea lifestyle. How deep? Good question. Sperm whales, for example, the largest predatory animals known to science, are able to dive to a depth of 3 kilometers and feel great there: they don’t care about water pressure. True, they have to rise to the surface for a breath of air. Megalodons don’t need this either: their gills supply them with oxygen. So it’s too early, too early to cross them off the list of the living!
Meeting with the “beautiful”
A strong argument in favor of the “survivability” of megalodons is given in his book “Sharks and Rays of the Australian Seas” (1963) by the famous Australian ichthyologist David George Stead.
In 1918 he worked for public service and was responsible for commercial fishing in the southern waters of Australia. And so he was hastily called from the port of Stevenson: local fishermen refuse to go to sea, scared to death by some huge fish - they need specialist advice. Stead hurried to appear. After questioning the fishermen thoroughly, he found out the following.
Following the routine once and for all, early in the morning the lobster fishermen set out to retrieve the traps they had set the day before. We arrived at the place - Bruton Island. Divers went underwater to attach traps to motorboats. The rest of the team quietly awaited their return. However, the divers rose immediately. In panic, they climbed onto the decks, shouting in different voices: “ Shark! Gigantic shark! Let's get out of here immediately!!"
And indeed, in the water surface the fishermen saw the outlines of a huge terrible fish. Without wasting a second, they hurried to leave the terrible place. And after recovering from horror, the divers said that, having descended to the bottom, they saw an incredibly large ash-white shark. She devoured the placed traps with lobsters and neither anchor chains nor cables stopped her.
According to the stories of the fishermen, it turned out that the shark reached 35 meters in length. And her head was the size of the roof of a boat shed.
The ichthyologist did not immediately believe the fishermen: common sense told him that megalodon(and judging by the size of the shark, it could only be him) there was no way he could resurrect and show up in Australian waters. On the other hand, Stead realized: there is no reason for fishermen to lie and avoid work, because their income depends on the catch. Besides, to invent such a story required a certain amount of imagination. The fishermen were experienced sailors, but not dreamers.
So as a scientist, Stead was a complete fiasco: he could neither refute nor confirm the words of the lobster fishermen. For himself, the ichthyologist concluded: one cannot exclude the fact that megalodons still live in the World Ocean. And you know, we tend to agree with him. Who knows what it hides - this deep blue sea?
Steps No. 22 2012
Oddly enough, the most famous prehistoric shark is still shrouded in mystery. After all, it is known mainly from its teeth and a small number of vertebrae. Latin name of the species comes from a pair of ancient Greek words for "big tooth". The reason is simple: the fish's teeth were different gigantic size, as well as herself. It can be called one of the largest and most dangerous marine predators of all time.
Business card
Time and place of existence
Megalodons existed from the end of the Oligocene to the beginning of the Pleistocene, about 28.1 - 1.5 million years ago (from the Rupelian to the beginning of the Calabrian stage). They were very widespread: remains are found on almost all continents, with the exception of Antarctica. Fossilized teeth have also been discovered at considerable distances from land, for example in the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean.
A rich painting by Italian paleoartist Alberto Gennari: a megalodon begins to eat a whale. Restless seagulls are circling nearby, and smaller sharks have gathered in the depths, ready to snatch a piece at any opportunity.
Types and history of discovery
For a long time, the extinct fish was considered a relative of the white shark and was assigned to the genus Carcharodon (in this case, the Latin name of the species is Carcharodon megalodon), however, recent research suggests that it belongs to the genus Carcharocles (in this case, the name is Carcharocles megalodon). At the moment, there is no complete certainty on this issue due to the lack of sufficient material.
In this dynamic painting by Canadian artist Andrew Domachowski, a megalodon literally bursts into a living gathering with its mouth open.
By all indications, people have found fossil remains of megalodon and other prehistoric sharks since primitive times. However, the first fairly clear mention in the literature dates back to the Renaissance: the finds of huge triangular teeth extracted from rocks are described.
Naturally, in those days mythical and even mystical properties were easily attributed to these impressive artifacts. It was said that this was real evidence of the existence of terrible dragons and giant snakes - their petrified tongues. There was even a common name - glossopetras(Latin word glossopetrae comes from the ancient Greek phrase "stone tongues").
However, even then there were scientists who were well acquainted with the anatomy of sharks. In 1667, the Danish anatomist and geologist Niels Stensen published his work "Elementorum myologiæ specimen, seu musculi descriptio geometrica: cui accedunt Canis Carchariæ dissectum caput, et dissectus piscis ex Canum genere", in which he notes the extraordinary similarity of the glossopetra with the teeth of a large shark caught near the port city of Livorno (Italy) a year earlier.
His famous illustration from the treatise is presented, where we see the supposed head of a megalodon at the base of the teeth. It still appears in many books on the history of paleontology as one of the first paleontological discoveries.
However, the scientific description of megalodon was only two hundred years later. In 1835, the Swiss naturalist Jean Louis Agassiz, using the knowledge on sharks accumulated by the 19th century, assigned the name Carcharodon megalodon to the owner of the huge fossil teeth. It happens within the book "Recherches Sur Les Poissons Fossiles", which was completely completed in 1843.
Turkish illustrator Kerem Beyit shows us an attack on a pod of sperm whales from the depths.
At the beginning of the article, we explained the species name of megalodon. The Latin name of the genus, Carcharocles, comes from a pair of ancient Greek words for “glorious tooth” (Carcharodon - “shark tooth”). Since then in different parts light, a huge number of fossilized megalodon teeth of various sizes were found. Some of them were deposited in museums, while others are in private collections.
Body structure
The body length of the megalodon reached 16 meters. The height is up to 4.5 meters. He weighed up to 47,690 kilograms. Is largest representative order of lamniformes and one of the largest sharks in the entire history of our planet.
Comparison of an animal with a white shark and a diver from BBC artists.
And finally, a comparison of the megalodon with the average bus from documentary film"Prehistoric Predators: Monster Shark" produced by National Geographic.
Unfortunately, megalodon is known only from numerous teeth, as well as fragments of the spine. This is directly related to the fact that the shark’s skeleton consists not of bones, but of cartilage: the likelihood of their fossilization is significantly less. Therefore, the full image of the ancient predator remains a mystery. Currently, most reconstructions are based on the structure of its possible relative, the white shark.
Megalodon moved, just like modern views, controlling movement in the water through several types of fins. He was capable of developing high speeds, so necessary for a swift attack and when chasing prey. The head is equipped with powerful trap-like jaws with several rows of sharp teeth.
Dr. Jeremiah Clifford, who specializes in skeletal reconstructions, stands in the jaws of a megalodon, holding the jaws of a white shark in his hands.
And now for a rather spectacular comparison of a megalodon tooth with the teeth of a white shark.
Note also that the length of the largest tooth is about 18.5 centimeters diagonally. It was discovered by paleontologist Peter Larson of the Black Hills Geological Research Institute. This is the largest tooth for the entire existence of the superorder of sharks.
We present to your attention a photograph of a record-breaking megalodon tooth (in the foreground).
Bite force
Recent studies show that the megalodon had an incredible bite force of up to 108,514 N. Apparently, it was necessary to inflict effective damage when hunting large animals.Other aspects
The body of the Cenozoic super predator was voluminous and teardrop-shaped. It smoothly turned into a tail, which ended in a rather long heterocercal caudal fin. Overall, the megalodon was a superbly armed shark of enormous physical strength. The photo shows an exhibit of the species Carcharocles megalodon (formerly Carcharodon megalodon) from the Calvert Maritime Museum (Solomons Settlement, Maryland, USA). Reconstructed on the basis of a white shark, taking into account available fossils.
Below are spectacular jaws in the beautiful interior of the American Museum of Natural History (New York, New York, USA).
Nutrition and lifestyle
Megalodon lived in seas almost all over the world, but preferred warm environments. Apparently, the predator used behavioral patterns quite similar to modern white sharks. However, there were also significant differences dictated by the unique body structure and colossal size. Megalodon was a pronounced solitary predator, although it could easily tolerate other individuals in its immediate vicinity. In cases of attacks on very large whales, the collective attack was mutually beneficial.Unlike its modern relative, the adult megalodon had almost no restrictions on its range of potential targets. Megalodon could attack alone both schools of small fish and very large whales. This made it possible to become a real thunderstorm of the oceans, a marine resemblance to a tyrannosaurus. A superpredator over a fairly long chronological interval. At the same time, megalodon had different attack strategies for each type of animal, which is also observed in sharks today.
An unusual illustration by English paleoartist Robert Nichols. A herd of Anancus was carried out to sea by a tsunami that suddenly arrived on the calm sea shores. Their dead bodies drifted for some time until the spreading smell attracted the attention of huge ancient sharks. A pair of adult megalodons and one cub took advantage of the opportunity, not at all shying away from the taste of decomposition.
And here a living Platybelodon was attacked in shallow water. Sometimes young megalodons could hunt in shelf seas and, moreover, swim very close to the shore. Author: Canadian paleoartist Julius Csotonyi.
Let us note that the total capacity of the arsenal is not comparable with analogues of its contemporaries. Moreover, even the teeth were somewhat stronger than those of the latter: thicker and wider, with a massive base.
Comparison of the teeth of a megalodon (left) and a great white shark (right) at the same scale from Prehistoric Wildlife.
They were adapted to the high loads that arise during the hunt for perfectly protected animals. As fossils show, megalodon tried to inflict critical injuries by attacking important organs and motor systems. The force of the bite was so strong that even bones were cracked. And these were not only multi-meter thick-skinned whales (from the families of sperm whales and smooth whales to dolphins), but also giant sea turtles.
3D scene of a megalodon attacking sea turtle from the Discovery Channel series Shark Week: Sharkzilla.
Other potential victims include smaller cetaceans, as well as pinnipeds and sirenians.
A very large megalodon is chasing a mammal from the order of sirens - the dugong.
Odobenocetops and Brygmophyseter, which appear in documentaries, could theoretically also be targets.
And this is not the full range of marine animals. Since megalodon existed for many millions of years, it managed to meet and survive more than one evolutionary generation sea creatures. With a high probability, megalodons also ate representatives of other sharks. It is also important to say that the diet of very young individuals was significantly different from the diet of adults: the proportion of small fish and shellfish in it was significantly higher.
Video
Excerpt from the documentary "Prehistoric Predators: Monster Shark." Skeletal elements and hunting scenes are shown.
A fragment from the popular science series "Shark Week: Sharkzilla". Megalodon attacks various representatives of the ancient fauna.
Excerpt from the documentary "Jurassic Fight Club: Sea Hunters." A member of the Ancient Brygmophyseter pack is attacked. Note that the size of the latter is greatly overestimated here.
Fragment of the feature-documentary film "Walking with Sea Monsters." Observation of megalodon in its native habitat.
Literature
Recommended scientific works:- Wroe, S.; Huber, D. R.; Lowry, M.; McHenry, C.; Moreno, K.; Clausen, P.; Ferrara, T. L.; Cunningham, E.; Dean, M. N.; Summers, A. P. (2008).
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