# **New Studies Illuminate the Actual Size and Shape of the Megalodon**
The megalodon, a long-extinct species of enormous shark, has intrigued both scientists and the general public for ages. This ancient predator, which existed roughly 3.6 million years ago, continues to spark discussion due to the absence of a complete fossilized skeleton. Nonetheless, recent research is advancing our comprehension of its size, body structure, and swimming abilities.
## **A Controversy Over Megalodon’s Body Structure**
For an extended period, researchers have disputed whether the megalodon bore resemblance to a gigantic great white shark or had a more streamlined physique. Some scientists have posited that it was a robust, formidable predator akin to the great white, whereas others propose it possessed a more lithe form. A recent study featured in *Palaeontologia Electronica* backs the latter perspective, providing new insights into the megalodon’s body mass, swimming velocity, and growth rates.
### **Contrasting Megalodon with Contemporary Sharks**
The largest extant shark is the whale shark, capable of reaching lengths of up to 20 meters (66 feet). In contrast to the megalodon, the whale shark is a slow, filter-feeding species. The megalodon, scientifically referred to as *Otodus megalodon*, was a swift predator. Due to incomplete fossil documentation, researchers have depended on comparisons with current shark species to gauge its size and morphology.
A 2022 investigation led by Jack Cooper from Swansea University developed a 3D model of the megalodon derived from a fossilized vertebral column discovered in Belgium. Their results indicated that the megalodon was a sturdy, muscular shark, measuring about 16 meters (52 feet) in length and weighing around 67.86 tons. This model corroborated the notion that the megalodon could achieve rapid bursts of speed to capture prey, similar to the great white shark.
Conversely, a more recent study conducted by paleobiologist Kenshu Shimada from DePaul University contests this interpretation. Shimada and his team contend that the megalodon was leaner and potentially longer than previously assumed. Their research implies that a stocky physique would have posed hydrodynamic inefficiencies for a shark of such considerable size.
## **Recent Discoveries Regarding Megalodon’s Size and Development**
Shimada’s team examined the proportions of 145 modern and 20 extinct shark species, concentrating on the head, trunk, and tail in relation to overall body length. Their study was centered around a Belgian megalodon specimen, with its largest vertebra measuring 15.5 cm (6 inches) in diameter. Other megalodon vertebrae found in Denmark reached diameters of up to 23 cm (9 inches), which indicates even larger individuals.
Their analysis determined that the Belgian specimen was likely about 16.4 meters (54 feet) in total length, with a head length of 1.8 meters (6 feet) and a tail measuring 3.6 meters (12 feet). Danish specimens may have extended to an incredible 24.3 meters (80 feet). Based on this evidence, the researchers suggest that the megalodon’s body shape bore greater resemblance to a lemon shark than to a great white.
### **What Was Megalodon’s Swimming Speed?**
The research also assessed the swimming capabilities of the megalodon, concluding that a 24.3-meter-long specimen would have swum at speeds ranging from 2.1 to 3.5 kilometers per hour (1.3 to 2.2 miles per hour). Although this is slower compared to a great white shark, it remains remarkable considering the megalodon’s substantial size.
## **Youthful Megalodons Were Already Impressive Predators**
One of the most captivating revelations from the study pertains to megalodon reproduction. The researchers found that megalodons gave birth to live young, with newborns measuring between 3.6 to 3.9 meters (12-13 feet) in length—approximately the size of an adult great white shark. This implies that young megalodons were capable of preying on marine mammals from birth.
This finding challenges the belief that megalodons depended on nursery environments to nurture their offspring. Due to their considerable size at birth, young megalodons would have been able to survive independently in the open ocean.
## **Reasons Behind Megalodon’s Slim Build**
One of the study’s most crucial conclusions is that large aquatic predators typically exhibit slender bodies for optimal hydrodynamic performance. For example, the whale shark and basking shark have elongated physiques that enable them to glide efficiently through the water. Conversely, the great white shark possesses a bulkier build, which becomes even more pronounced as it matures. This body structure restricts its maximum size to approximately 7 meters (23 feet).
The researchers opine that if the megalodon had a stocky body akin to
