When she isn’t writing about science, Erin loves to be outside in the sunshine or reading books. “Even Tyrannosaurus rex doesn’t come close to that amount of pressure”. The megalodon had 7-inch-long teeth and a bite force of between 24,000 to 40,000 pounds, more than three times that of a T-Rex. Your opinions are important to us. or. Depending on the mega-piranha's weight, that force ⦠“When I saw that the meg was up against Jason Statham, I knew that it had no chance,” he says. Thank you for taking your time to send in your valued opinion to Science X editors. Then around 3.6 million years ago, Earth’s biggest shark disappeared. It went extinct at least 2 million years ago. Between 23 and 3.6 million years ago, dorsal fins taller than a modern-day human protruded from the warm waters surrounding Washington, D.C. You can be assured our editors closely monitor every feedback sent and will take appropriate actions. Most of the shark’s skeleton was composed of cartilage, which rapidly decays and doesn’t leave behind fossils. they are found in the parts of Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. She also holds a BS in microbiology from New Mexico State University and a PhD in microbiology from the University of Washington. The giant shark was found to be a juvenile Megalodon. Itâs hard to imagine how a killer as massive and powerful as the megalodon ⦠Click here to sign in with The fish, ranging from about 20 to 37 centimetres (eight to 15 inches) in length, "readily performed multiple defensive bites" on the gadget, wrote the team from the United States, Egypt and Brazil. In the 2018 film The Meg – based on a novel by Steven Alten – megalodon resurfaces from the deepest part of the ocean to terrorize a research vessel. Medical Xpress covers all medical research advances and health news, Tech Xplore covers the latest engineering, electronics and technology advances, Science X Network offers the most comprehensive sci-tech news coverage on the web. Outsized jaw muscles allow the black piranha to exert bite force equivalent to 30 times its bodyweight, a feat unmatched in the natural world, according to results of a finger-risking study published Thursday. Its name in Greek means “big-toothed glorious shark” – a fitting moniker for an immense and deadly hunter with chompers as big as a human hand. In comparison, the largest great white shark was around 23.5 feet long, weighed 2.4 tons and had teeth 1.5 inches long. And surprisingly they were also the type of shark that would hunt in packs and if you add the 7 inches long teeth there would have one mean looking creature on your hands. Megalodon probably had a major impact on the structure of marine communities. A: Yes. Vote Now! The word âmegalodonâ actually means âlarge toothâ The âlargeâ part is no joke either: these teeth ⦠In fact, relative to their size, piranhas outperform even prehistoric monsters like Tyrannosaurus rex and the whale-chomping megalodon, a massive shark that preceded the great white, said the study. Mako sharks are the best living representation of its extinct cousin, albeit much smaller. Say Hello to the Smithsonian’s Newest Mollusk Expert, Our Thanksgiving Menu has Lost a Few Crops, The Inspiring Quest to Revive the Hawaiian Language, The New Science of Our Ancient Bond With Dogs, Why Seagrass Could Be the Ocean's Secret Weapon Against Climate Change. Computer models estimate the Megalodonâs bite force between 24,000 to 40,000 pounds (10,900 to 18,100 kilograms), This is 6-10 times that of the Great White shark and modern crocodiles, This is also 2-3 times that of the estimated bite force of 12,800 pounds for T-Rex and the large Mosasaurs. An ancient shark left behind a piece of itself when it bit into its prey. The megalodon probably fed on large marine mammals, such as whales. Get the best of Smithsonian magazine by email. ... A team of researchers in Australia determined the megalodon's bite force was so strong, it could crush the skull of a whale as easily as a human can eat a grape [source: Wroe]. The Megalodon (Greek for âbig toothâ) is a large shark, the big estimate being up to 16 meters long. Their model placed a âconservativeâ estimate of megalodonâs bite force at 108,514 newtons, with a maximum estimate of 182,201 newtons! Despite such fictional suggestions, megalodon remains extremely extinct. Your email address is used only to let the recipient know who sent the email. A female may have reached up to 60 feet in length and weighed up to 120,000 pounds. Uncovered in Belgium in the sunshine or reading books editors closely monitor every feedback sent and will take actions! 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