Millions of years before Jaws and Open Water terrified moviegoers, a colossal shark known as Otodus megalodon dominated the oceans. New research has provided a revised estimate of this extinct giant’s size, and the results are truly awe-inspiring.
An international team of biologists, paleontologists, and anatomists meticulously analyzed partial megalodon fossils, comparing them to the morphology of both extant and extinct shark species. This data allowed them to extrapolate that the megalodon, also called the megatooth shark, could have reached a staggering maximum length of 80 feet (24 meters). Their study, published in Palaeontologia Electronica, offers potential explanations for why some shark species achieved such gigantic proportions while others remained comparatively small.
The team’s investigation centered around a partial 36-foot (11-meter) fossilized megalodon vertebral column (spine) unearthed in Belgium. Led by paleobiologist Kenshu Shimada of DePaul University, they compared the spine to the body proportions of 145 living and 20 extinct shark species.
Based on this analysis and the assumption that megalodon’s body plan was similar to that of most sharks, the researchers estimated that a megalodon with a 36-foot spine would have possessed a 6-foot (1.8-meter) head and a 12-foot (3.6-meter) tail. This individual would have measured a remarkable 54 feet (16.4 meters) in total length.
Illustrationforpressrelease(revisedmegalodonbiology) Embargod Until 10 March 2025 1201am GmtAn artist’s rendering depicts the massive 80-foot megalodon. © DePaul University/Kenshu Shimada
However, this is not the upper limit. Applying the same proportions to some of the largest known megalodon vertebrae discovered in Denmark, the team concluded that this individual could have reached a colossal 80 feet (24.3 meters) and weighed an estimated 94 tons. “The length of 24.3 meters is currently the largest possible reasonable estimate for O. megalodon that can be scientifically justified based on the present fossil record,” stated Phillip Sternes, study co-author and biologist at SeaWorld San Diego.
The exact appearance of the megalodon remains a mystery due to the lack of a complete skeleton. Scientists rely on partial remains and comparisons to other shark species. The megalodon’s serrated teeth resemble those of great white sharks, leading to depictions of the extinct species as a supersized great white.
However, the new study challenges this conventional image. “This research solidifies the idea that O. megalodon was not simply a gigantic great white shark, supporting our previous study,” explained Sternes. Co-author Jake Wood, a biologist at Florida Atlantic University, added, “Our study distinguishes itself by employing a completely new approach that doesn’t solely rely on the modern great white shark for comparison.”
The researchers theorize that megalodon had a slimmer build than the bulky great white, possibly resembling the lemon shark. They observed that modern giant marine animals, such as whale sharks, basking sharks, and whales, also exhibit more slender and hydrodynamic forms. This suggests that bulky marine vertebrates, like great whites, may not be able to achieve enormous sizes without altering their body shape for efficient swimming.
“While many of our interpretations are still tentative, they are data-driven and will serve as valuable benchmarks for future research on O. megalodon biology,” concluded Shimada.
It’s important to acknowledge that the absence of a complete megalodon skeleton introduces a degree of speculation and assumptions into the research. Shark body proportions vary significantly, and comparing them may not always yield accurate results. While correlating vertebrae size with body length is logical, it’s not definitive. Future fossil discoveries will be crucial for validating these findings.
While we may feel relieved not to share the ocean with megalodons today, this study suggests that the modern great white shark may have played a role in the megalodon’s extinction roughly 5 million years ago.
