Scientists Model an Ancient Shark Able to Eat Whales in a Few Bites
2022-08-22
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1Scientists used the ancient remains of bones and teeth to recreate a big shark that lived in the oceans millions of years ago.
2The creature was so huge a recent study estimated it could have eaten something the size of a killer whale in just five bites.
3For the recently published study, researchers used fossil evidence to create a three-dimensional (3D) model of the megalodon - one of the biggest fish of all time.
4The study was published in Science Advances.
5It said megalodon was around 16 meters from nose to tail - bigger than a school bus.
6It is also several times the size of today's great white shark.
7Megalodon's large mouth meant it could feed on big creatures.
8Once it filled its stomach, it could travel the oceans for months at a time, the researchers suggested.
9The megalodon was a strong swimmer, too.
10Its average swimming speed was faster than sharks today and it could have traveled across several oceans with ease, scientists said.
11John Hutchinson, a co-writer of the study, described the megalodon as a "superpredator."
12He added, "There is nothing really matching it."
13It has been difficult for scientists to get a clear picture of the megalodon, said study co-writer Catalina Pimiento.
14The skeleton is made of soft cartilage that does not become a fossil very often, Pimiento said.
15So the scientists used the few fossils that are available, including a rare collection of back bones that has been at a museum in Belgium since the 1860s.
16Researchers also brought in many megalodon teeth, each as big as a closed human hand, Hutchinson said.
17Special images of modern great white sharks helped researchers recreate the rest of the creature.
18Researchers estimate that the megalodon would have weighed around 70 tons, or as much as 10 elephants.
19Even other high-level hunters may have been food for the megalodon, which had a mouth almost 2 meters wide, Pimiento said.
20Megalodons lived an estimated 23 million to 2.6 million years ago.
21Since megalodon fossils are rare, these kinds of models require a "leap of imagination," said Michael Gottfried who studies ancient bones at the Michigan State University.
22Gottfried was not involved in the study.
23But he said the study's findings are reasonable based on what is known about the large shark.
24I'm John Russell.
1Scientists used the ancient remains of bones and teeth to recreate a big shark that lived in the oceans millions of years ago. 2The creature was so huge a recent study estimated it could have eaten something the size of a killer whale in just five bites. 3For the recently published study, researchers used fossil evidence to create a three-dimensional (3D) model of the megalodon - one of the biggest fish of all time. 4The study was published in Science Advances. It said megalodon was around 16 meters from nose to tail - bigger than a school bus. It is also several times the size of today's great white shark. 5Megalodon's large mouth meant it could feed on big creatures. Once it filled its stomach, it could travel the oceans for months at a time, the researchers suggested. 6The megalodon was a strong swimmer, too. 7Its average swimming speed was faster than sharks today and it could have traveled across several oceans with ease, scientists said. 8John Hutchinson, a co-writer of the study, described the megalodon as a "superpredator." He added, "There is nothing really matching it." 9It has been difficult for scientists to get a clear picture of the megalodon, said study co-writer Catalina Pimiento. 10The skeleton is made of soft cartilage that does not become a fossil very often, Pimiento said. So the scientists used the few fossils that are available, including a rare collection of back bones that has been at a museum in Belgium since the 1860s. 11Researchers also brought in many megalodon teeth, each as big as a closed human hand, Hutchinson said. Special images of modern great white sharks helped researchers recreate the rest of the creature. 12Researchers estimate that the megalodon would have weighed around 70 tons, or as much as 10 elephants. 13Even other high-level hunters may have been food for the megalodon, which had a mouth almost 2 meters wide, Pimiento said. 14Megalodons lived an estimated 23 million to 2.6 million years ago. 15Since megalodon fossils are rare, these kinds of models require a "leap of imagination," said Michael Gottfried who studies ancient bones at the Michigan State University. 16Gottfried was not involved in the study. But he said the study's findings are reasonable based on what is known about the large shark. 17I'm John Russell. 18Maddie Burakoff reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. 19_________________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21fossil - n. the mineralized remains of an animal or plant that lived in the distant past 22cartilage - n. a strong but flexible material found in some parts of the body (such as the nose, the outer ear, and some joints) 23fossilize - v. to become a fossil or to cause (something) to become a fossil 24museum - n. a building in which interesting and valuable things (such as paintings and sculptures or scientific or historical objects) are collected and shown to the public 25leap - n. a long or high jump