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The megalodon, often pictured as a colossal great white shark, is now understood through new research to have a vastly different physique. This study finds that the ancient predator likely had a body length that was longer and more streamlined, resembling the shape of a lemon shark or even a significant-sized whale.
A collaborative team of researchers, including experts from the University of California, Riverside, utilized innovative methods to estimate the total length of megalodon. This approach went beyond the typical reliance on tooth size measurements. By analyzing the vertebral columns of the megalodon and comparing them with over 100 species of both contemporary and extinct sharks, the team was able to determine a more accurate relationship among the shark’s head, body, and tail.
Published in the journal Palaeontologia Electronica, the study reveals that megalodon could have reached lengths of approximately 80 feet, which is about the length of two school buses. Additionally, it is estimated that this formidable creature weighed around 94 tons, roughly equivalent to that of a large blue whale, yet designed for cruising efficiently rather than engaging in constant high-speed chases.
“This research presents the most comprehensive analysis conducted on the size and shape of megalodon,” stated Phillip Sternes, a shark biologist and doctoral graduate from UCR. “Contrary to the image of a giant great white shark, it more closely resembled a massive lemon shark, featuring a slender, elongated form. This body shape is much more practical for efficient movement through aquatic environments.”
Unlike great white sharks, which have a stout, torpedo-like body suited for quick bursts of speed, lemon sharks exhibit a leaner, more uniform structure with a gradual tapering. This elongated shape allows for smoother, energy-efficient swimming. If megalodon indeed had a body structure akin to that of a lemon shark, the actual appearance of this ocean giant would have been decidedly sleeker than its commonly portrayed bulk in popular culture.
For aquatic animals such as sharks, efficient movement is crucial, much like in the design of airplanes or the techniques of competitive swimmers.
“In swimming, efficiency is crucial, and leading with your head improves hydrodynamics compared to leading with your body,” explained Tim Higham, a biologist at UCR who contributed to the research on animal locomotion in water. “Evolution tends to favor efficiency in many forms.”
The research indicates that large marine creatures, including sharks, whales, and even ancient marine reptiles, exhibit similar trends in body proportions. “The physics of swimming sets limits on how stocky or elongated large predators can become,” Higham noted.
The findings also provide insights into megalodon’s swimming behavior. Ongoing debates have speculated whether it was a swift predator or a slower, more methodical hunter. The new data suggests a middle ground: megalodon likely swam at moderate speeds but could quickly accelerate when pursuing prey. Continuous high-speed swimming would have been inefficient given its massive size and energy expenditure.
Additionally, the study indicates that newborn megalodons could have been nearly 13 feet in length, comparable to an adult great white shark. “It’s quite plausible that young megalodons were already capable of hunting marine mammals shortly after birth,” Sternes remarked.
A significant breakthrough from this research was identifying the lemon shark as the best living model for understanding megalodon’s proportions. Unlike great whites, lemon sharks possess a more elongated form. When researchers scaled the proportions of a lemon shark to align with the estimated size of megalodon, the match was remarkably accurate.
“This research not only clarifies our perception of megalodon but also establishes a basis for examining how size impacts movement in marine animals,” stated Sternes.
Beyond redefining megalodon’s appearance, the study provides valuable insights into the evolution of large animal sizes.
“Gigantism isn’t solely about increasing size — it involves developing the appropriate body plan to thrive at that scale,” Sternes expressed. “Megalodon may indeed represent one of the most extreme instances of such evolution.”
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