Research conducted by Dr. Kenshu Shimada has revealed that the total body length of the megalodon could be up to 30 feet (9 meters) longer than previously believed. Humans did not exist alongside this prehistoric shark. Dr. Shimada’s fascination with fossil sharks, particularly the giant Otodus megalodon, began in his childhood when he discovered his first megalodon tooth at the age of 13. His recent findings challenge the depiction of megalodon in popular culture, such as the exaggerated size shown in the movie “The Meg.”
The latest study, published in the journal Palaeontologia Electronica, suggests that megalodon could have reached an impressive length of 80 feet (24 meters) and had a slenderer build similar to a lemon shark rather than a bulky great white shark. Dr. Shimada emphasizes that megalodon should not be simplistically seen as a giant version of the great white shark, urging a shift in this perspective.
The research sheds new light on how marine vertebrates can evolve to achieve immense sizes and may influence how scientists and fiction portray these creatures. While megalodon never lived alongside humans, it reigned as an apex predator in oceans worldwide between 15 million and 3.6 million years ago based on fossil evidence.
Megalodon, like other cartilaginous fishes, had a largely unmineralized skeleton, making fossilized teeth common discoveries. The existing fossil record includes teeth and parts of giant shark skeletons, providing insights into the structure and size of these prehistoric creatures. Previous assumptions about megalodon’s size and body shape are being reconsidered in light of this new research, challenging old notions about this formidable predator.
Shimada and his team from DePaul University have been studying the megalodon, an extinct shark, since he was 13. However, their recent findings suggest that the megalodon may not have resembled a huge great white shark as previously thought. In a study published in August 2022, Shimada and his colleagues built a digital 3D model of the megalodon and discovered that the proportions of the shark did not align with those of a great white shark.
By comparing 145 species of living sharks and 20 species of extinct sharks, Shimada’s team created a database of head, body, and tail proportions. They found that the megalodon likely had a long, sleek body similar to that of a lemon shark, rather than the stout, tanklike build of a great white shark. This revelation led to a larger pattern in marine biology, suggesting that slender animals like blue whales can grow larger more efficiently than thicker animals like great white sharks.
The findings propose that the megalodon could have been up to 80 feet long, thinner than previously believed. Dr. Stephen Godfrey, a paleontology curator, expressed surprise at the proposed similarities between megalodon and lemon sharks, as well as the larger size estimated by Shimada’s team.
Ultimately, the true appearance and size of the megalodon can only be confirmed with the discovery of a complete skeleton. Shimada emphasized the importance of finding a complete skeleton to verify whether the megalodon was truly slender or stocky.
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