New analysis bites holes into theories about Megalodons

A brand new research leaves giant tooth marks in earlier conclusions concerning the physique form of the Megalodon, one of many largest sharks that ever lived. 

The research, which makes use of a pioneering approach for analyzing sharks, has now been printed within the worldwide journal Historical Biology.

Megalodons swam the Earth roughly 15 to three.6-million years in the past, and are sometimes portrayed as super-sized monsters in movies equivalent to 2018’s “The Meg.” While there isn’t any dispute that they existed or that they had been gigantic, Otodus megalodon are recognized solely from their fossilized tooth and vertebrae. Based on this proof, research counsel they reached lengths of as much as 65 ft. 

Unfortunately, further fossil proof from which to attract conclusions about their our bodies, equivalent to a whole skeleton, has not but been found. 

“The cartilage in shark bodies doesn’t preserve well, so there are currently no scientific means to support or refute previous studies on O. megalodon body forms,” stated Phillip Sternes, a UCR organismal biologist and lead creator on the research.

Traditionally, researchers have modeled Megalodon our bodies on these of contemporary nice white sharks. Great whites are partially heat blooded and belong to the lamniform shark order. Megalodons additionally belong to this order, and it’s believed they shared this partial heat bloodedness with nice whites. 

It was beforehand thought having some heat blood is a bonus that might develop sharks’ swimming vary, not like different fish depending on water temperature. However, it’s now believed to extend swimming velocity.

“Great whites are among the fastest swimming sharks, so Megalodons were likely also big, fast sharks you would not want to run into in the open ocean,” stated Sternes. 

There are eight households of Lamniformes, and 15 species. Previous analysis took 5 species of warm-blooded Lamniformes, averaged their fin and physique shapes and proposed a basic mannequin for Megalodons.
 
Sternes and his colleagues needed to grasp whether or not the 5 species used to find out Megalodon’s form differed someway from the remainder of the order, which incorporates some sharks which might be chilly blooded. 

The researchers in contrast the 5 species to one another, and to the remainder of the lamniform order. Using detailed subject information drawings, they carried out quantitative comparisons of the sharks’ fin, head and physique shapes.

They discovered no basic patterns that will enable them to tease out physique form variations. 

“Warm bloodedness does not make you a differently shaped shark,” Sternes stated. “I encourage others to explore ideas about its body shape, and to search for the ultimate treasure of a preserved Megalodon fossil. Meanwhile, this result clears up some confusion about previous findings and opens the door to other ideas once again.”  

While others sometimes use precise organisms or images of organisms for such comparisons, Sternes pioneered using this two-dimensional drawing approach on sharks. 

“The purpose of field guides is to identify a species, so the drawings must be accurate representations,” he stated. “It’s a technique widely used in biology and works well for sharks since some specimens exist only in remote places.”

Sternes hopes that others use the approach to check snakes, birds and different animals with specimens which may be troublesome to gather. He additionally hopes others will proceed to seek for a greater understanding of the Megalodon. 

“This study may appear to be a step backward in science,” stated Kenshu Shimada, research co-author and DePaul University paleobiology professor. “But the continued mystery makes paleontology, the study of prehistoric life, a fascinating and exciting scientific field.”