The extinct shark Otodus megalodon was a transoceanic superpredator: Inferences from 3D modeling
2022; American Association for the Advancement of Science; Volume: 8; Issue: 33 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1126/sciadv.abm9424
ISSN2375-2548
AutoresJack A. Cooper, John R. Hutchinson, David C. Bernvi, Geremy Cliff, Rory P. Wilson, Matt Dicken, Jan Robert Menzel, Stephen Wroe, Jeanette Pirlo, Catalina Pimiento,
Tópico(s)Fish Ecology and Management Studies
ResumoAlthough shark teeth are abundant in the fossil record, their bodies are rarely preserved. Thus, our understanding of the anatomy of the extinct Otodus megalodon remains rudimentary. We used an exceptionally well-preserved fossil to create the first three-dimensional model of the body of this giant shark and used it to infer its movement and feeding ecology. We estimate that an adult O. megalodon could cruise at faster absolute speeds than any shark species today and fully consume prey the size of modern apex predators. A dietary preference for large prey potentially enabled O. megalodon to minimize competition and provided a constant source of energy to fuel prolonged migrations without further feeding. Together, our results suggest that O. megalodon played an important ecological role as a transoceanic superpredator. Hence, its extinction likely had large impacts on global nutrient transfer and trophic food webs.
Referência(s)