Find the mystery that makes the world's largest shark disappear

The extinction of Carcharocles megalodon sharks also contains many secrets that scientists cannot find.

The extinction of Carcharocles megalodon sharks also contains many secrets that scientists cannot find.

According to National Geographic, Carcharocles megalodon , the largest shark species in history, extinction 2.5 million years ago. Megalodon sharks are gigantic brutal predators. They are distributed in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans.

Picture 1 of Find the mystery that makes the world's largest shark disappear

Huge size illustrations (14 - 18m long and 100 tons heavy) of Megalodon sharks compared to humans.(Photo: Stephen J. Godfre / Calvert Sea Museum).

Climate change may be the main cause of the extinction of Megalodon sharks. These sharks often live in warm waters. At the end of Upper Tan, whales, seals and other mammals moved to colder waters. Meanwhile, Megalodon sharks cannot live in cold environments.

To understand this problem, paleontologist Catalina Pimiento and colleagues analyzed data on the relationship between the appearance of Megalodon sharks and the climate. Contrary to previous views, the temperature decline did not extinguish the Megalodon shark.

In the early period, about 20 million years ago, Megalodon sharks lived mainly in the Northern Hemisphere. According to the researchers, the shark population expanded about 15 million years ago. But then, the number of Megalodon individuals decreased.

"Megalodon sharks are not much affected by the temperature change in the Renewal, so the Tan Tan and the present, " Pimiento said. This species of shark does not show a direct reaction during a period of sharp decline. They are able to adapt to temperatures in the range of 11 - 26 degrees Celsius. One of the waters of Megalodon sharks that once lived still maintains this heat until today.

Picture 2 of Find the mystery that makes the world's largest shark disappear

Jeff Seigel, the museum's manager, stands inside Megalodon's giant fossil, a shark big enough to swallow a car.(Photo: Rick Meyer).

Megalodon sharks began to gradually decline in numbers from the middle of the Middle East. Paleontologist Dana Ehret also discovered two major events at the same time. Contrary to the decline in the number of whales, the white shark population and the sperm whale have grown strongly. This continues in the Renovation. The number of prey declined, and the number of other predators increased dramatically, making the source of food of Megalodon sharks become scarce.

From teeth, vertebrae and a few bite of Megalodon, scientists only know about their massive size, diet and viability. Researchers have not yet been able to give an accurate explanation of the extinction of the planet's largest fish.

Update 17 December 2018
« PREV
NEXT »
Category

Technology

Life

Discover science

Medicine - Health

Event

Entertainment