The reason for their extinction is a mystery, but a group of scientists have come up with a new theory.
It megalodonthe largest shark that ever lived, may have gone extinct after fighting for food against the great white shark, one of the water’s most ferocious predators.
This conclusion emerged from an analysis of the fossil teeth of the sea giant published in the journal Nature Communications, and was carried out by researchers from several countries.
Experts say that environmental stresses, such as changes in sea level, also played a role in the species’ disappearance three million years ago.
In a recent study, zinc isotopes were used to study the teeth of living sharks and fossils of extinct sharks. This tool helps to understand the diet of animals.
On the left, the teeth of a megalodon, while on the right the teeth of a great white shark are shown. GETTY IMAGE
Chemical clues to the teeth of a living shark and 13 fossilized megalodon teeth suggest that both once had same position in the food chain and they may compete for the same prey, including whales, porpoises, and porpoises.
“This is one piece of the puzzle of evidence that there was competition between the modern great white shark and megalodon for food resources.they were both still alive at the time,” said Thomas Tutken.director of studies and professor at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany.
However, this theory is uncertain, comment catherine pepper, who works at Swansea University in the UK and has also contributed to publications.
The extinction of these animals, he continued, has been studied from many angles over the past decade and there are various conclusions that point to more than one factor.
Megalodon jaws can open up to 1.5 m. A small car will fit in it. GETTY IMAGE
“The mystery of what megalodon ate and to what extent it competed with other sharks remains,” he said.
Megalodon (Otodus megalodon) was a large-toothed shark that roamed the oceans about 22 million years ago, until it disappeared three million years ago. His name means “big tooth”.
That’s three times the size of a great white shark. It can reach 18 meters in length and weigh up to 60 tons.
Sammy, six, found a megalodon tooth on a Suffolk beach. Peter Shelton
In early May, a six-year-old boy discovered teeth from a prehistoric megalodon in Suffolk, England, bringing the species back to the news.
Little Sammy Shelton found a 10cm long tooth on Bawdsey beach while on vacation.
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