How Big Was Megalodon?

Publication Info:

Transcript:

Kenshu Shimada et al, Rediscovery of the associated gigantic vertebrae of the extinct megatooth shark, Otodus megalodon, from the Upper Miocene Gram Formation in Denmark, and comments on its paleobiological significance and the maximum possible size of the species, Palaeontologia Electronica (2026). DOI: 10.26879/1674

Last year's reassessment of megalodon as a longer, slimmer animal at nearly 80 feet has been seemingly confirmed by new research using previously lost megalodon vertebrae! Paleontologists may now know how long this prehistoric shark was, how old it could get, and what it was eating!

Episode 301

Notes:

This almost 11 million year-old Megalodon vertebra was missing for decades, but now it might be confirming Megalodon's size and what it ate. Here's the most recent paleontology news almost daily or whenever I get around to it. So, in the past, Megalodon was basically reconstructed as like a giant great white, but a reassessment last year kind of stretched it out and slimmed it down, making it a more lightly built but longer animal. Based on along with some other sources, a remarkably complete chunk of a Megalodon vertebral column. Well, it turns out there were already some larger missing Megalodon vertebrae already in a museum, sort of. They were originally discovered in Denmark in the 1970s, published on in the '80s, and then unfortunately kind of got misplaced for a little while before recently being found again still in their field jackets, and that matters. Not only are they the largest shark vertebrae ever discovered, according to researchers, they're probably the largest fish vertebrae ever discovered, too, which makes sense. And they were preserved so well that using advanced imaging techniques, researchers were able to kind of count the growth rings like you do with a tree. And they determined that these giant vertebrae were probably from a roughly 64-year-old individual. They were then able to compare the information they got with the fairly complete chunk of a vertebral column that was used in last year's estimate and determine that Megalodon probably was this longer, slimmer animal, reaching a maximum age of just about 96 years and a maximum size of probably around 80 ft, but possibly even longer than that. And as a huge bonus, because the field jackets were still intact, they were able to find evidence of possibly gill structures and smaller vertebrae as well. But this hair consistent with a basking shark that was most likely this Megalodon's last meal. As usual, if you want more information, here's the source.