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Megalodon Likely More Slender Than Previously Thought, New Study Suggests

The extinct shark species might have been more similar to the modern mako shark than the great white, potentially altering our understanding of its behavior and impact on ancient marine ecosystems.

Overview

  • A new study suggests that the megalodon, an extinct species of shark, was more slender and possibly even longer than previously believed.
  • The study is based on an incomplete set of fossil vertebrae and compares them to living sharks.
  • Previous research used the great white shark as a model for the megalodon, leading to the belief that the megalodon had a bulky body shape.
  • The new study suggests that a better model for the megalodon might be the modern mako shark.
  • The revised understanding of the megalodon’s body shape could have implications for our understanding of its behavior, its impact on ancient marine ecosystems, and the reasons for its extinction.