Scientists suspect that Megalodon might be extinct due to great white sharks
News24xx.com - Megalodon, as seen in the film The Meg, is the largest shark that ever lived. It lived million years ago during the dinosaurs’ era, but it has already gone. However, unlike what they previously thought, scientists suspect that this ancient shark died due to competition with smaller sharks.
Before, scientists claimed that Megalodons died out 2,6 million years ago. They theorized that the prehistoric sharks became extinct due to a supernova which was thought to have unleashed cosmic radiation that caused increased cancer rates among large animals.
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However, the team of researchers led by paleontologist Robert Boessenecker found a different pattern. They found that the fossil occurrences were present up until 3,6 million years ago. It means that Megalodon’s extinction is not related to the mass dying of seals, walruses, sea cows, porpoises, dolphins and whales around 1-2,5 million years ago. Therefore, their extinction might not have been caused by a phenomenon like supernova.
Instead, the researchers suspect that it was the great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) that drove Megalodon to extinction. Around 4 million years ago, great whites spread from their initial home in the Pacific Ocean to other waters around the world. They became the competition of Megalodon.
“We propose that this short overlap (3,6-4 million years ago) was sufficient time for great white sharks to spread worldwide and out compete Megalodon throughout its range, driving it to extinction—rather than radiation from outer space,” Boessenecker said, as cited from CNN.
While it seems strange that smaller shark can out-compete a bigger shark, other experts support this theory. Emma Bernard, curator of fossil fish at the Natural History Museum in London, said that it might be possible that Megalodon died out due to competitions with other apex predators like great white sharks and killer whales.
News24xx.com/fik/red
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