Wednesday 17 August 2022 07:07 PM Megalodon targeted prey as large as killer whales when it roamed the oceans 11 ... trends now
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At 52ft long and weighing a whopping 61 tons, it's no surprise that the megalodon was one of the most ferocious predators to have ever lived on Earth.
But a new study sheds light on megalodon's chosen prey, and suggests the ancient beast feasted on animals as large as killer whales when it roamed the oceans 11 million years ago.
After such a feed, the ancient shark could survive without any more food for two months, according to researchers from the Royal Veterinary College.
'This giant shark was a transoceanic super-apex predator,' said Professor Catalina Pimiento, a senior author of the study from the University of Zurich.
'The extinction of this iconic giant shark likely impacted global nutrient transport and released large cetaceans from a strong predatory pressure.'
A new study sheds light on megalodon's chosen prey, and suggests the ancient beast feasted on animals as large as killer whales when it roamed the oceans 11 million years ago
Researchers from the Royal Veterinary College used advanced 3D modelling to discover the movement and feeding ecology of the biggest shark to have ever roamed the oceans - the megalodon
Until today, the only fossil evidence we have of the megalodon has been its teeth.
Previous studies have used measurements of these