Megalodon was the largest shark that ever lived. They have a body size of more than 18 meters – twice the size of the largest white shark ever recorded. Until now, how they became extinct remains a mystery.
Megalodon – Cruel Predator
The most famous prehistoric shark Carcharocles Megalodon, also known as megalodon or megatooth, dominated the seas from about 17 million years ago to nearly three million years ago. The only marine animal to surpass the size of Megalodon is the blue whale, which weighs up to 200 tons and is twice the length of Megalodon.
Megalodon has ruled the oceans for centuries.
This ancient carnivore had huge teeth 18 cm long, they often eat larger prey such as whales, dolphins and even other sharks. Megalodon’s bite is recorded as the strongest of all time with a bite force three times that of the T-Rex.
How did they go extinct ?
Scientist Max Planck and his team at the Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany have developed a new way to understand the diet of Megalodon species. They used isotopes of zinc from fossils to learn about the life of this ancient shark.
Megalodon’s teeth compared to a great white shark.
The scientists compared the ratio of the “zinc isotope” in the fossils to those of modern sharks such as the great white. According to the analysis, it is very likely that the megalodon and the great white shark ate the same marine animal. Possessing a similar diet will create fierce competition between the two species for food. For millions of years both species fought fiercely for survival and in the end, somehow, the great white shark won.
Studies using zinc isotopes to explore the lives and diets of extinct animals could yield fascinating revelations about antiquity that we never knew existed. Let’s see what else we can find out in the future!