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Megalodon shark and great white
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Megalodon shark and great white
Megalodon shark (Carcharodon megalodon), computer artwork. A great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) is shown below it at the same scale. This enormous shark lived between around 20 and 1.2 million years ago, and is known from fossils. It was related to the modern great white shark, and is thought to have fed on whales, as this is the only source of food that could have provided it with enough meat. Megalodon was thought to attain lengths exceeding 20 metres, and possibly significantly larger. It is thought that it died out after the seas cooled, allowing warm-blooded whales to escape the sharks for much of the year by swimming to waters too cold for them to survive in
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Media ID 6369165
© CHRISTIAN DARKIN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Comparing Comparison Enormous Extinct Fossil Vertebrate Fossils Giant Monster Pre Historic Pre History Scale Shark Vertebrates Carcharodon Carcharias Carcharodon Megalodon Computer Artwork Great White Shark Megalodon Palaeontology
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This print showcases the awe-inspiring size comparison between two formidable predators of the deep sea: the Megalodon shark and the great white shark. Created through computer artwork, this image provides a glimpse into prehistoric times when these enormous creatures roamed our oceans. The Megalodon, a distant relative of the modern great white shark, reigned supreme between 20 and 1.2 million years ago. Fossils have revealed that this colossal beast could reach lengths exceeding an astonishing 20 meters, making it one of the largest known sharks to have ever existed. Its immense size suggests that its primary source of sustenance was whales, as no other prey could provide enough meat to satisfy its massive appetite. However, despite its dominance in ancient seas, the Megalodon eventually met its demise as temperatures cooled and warm-blooded whales evolved strategies to evade their pursuers for most of the year by seeking colder waters where these giant sharks couldn't survive. This remarkable illustration not only highlights the sheer magnitude of these extinct giants but also serves as a testament to nature's intricate web of predator-prey relationships throughout history. It is a fascinating reminder that our planet has been home to extraordinary creatures whose existence can only be imagined through scientific discoveries such as fossils and computer-generated artistry.
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