Overview

• A new analysis estimates megalodons may have reached lengths of up to 80 feet and weighed approximately 94 tons, rivaling the size of blue whales.
• The study suggests a more elongated, slender body shape similar to a lemon shark, contrasting with earlier comparisons to the stockier great white shark.
• Megalodon newborns were likely around 13 feet long, the size of an adult great white, and capable of hunting marine mammals shortly after birth.
• The findings indicate megalodons were energy-efficient swimmers, capable of moderate cruising speeds with bursts of speed for hunting.
• This research refines our understanding of megalodon biology and offers insights into how body shape influences the evolution of gigantism in marine animals.