Phillip C Sternes, Patrick L Jambura, Julia Türtscher, Jürgen Kriwet, Mikael Siversson, Iris Feichtinger, Gavin J P Naylor, Adam P Summers, John G Maisey, Taketeru Tomita, Joshua K Moyer, Timothy E Higham, João Paulo C B da Silva, Hugo Bornatowski, Douglas J Long, Victor J Perez, Alberto Collareta, Charlie Underwood, David J Ward, Romain Vullo, Gerardo González-Barba, Harry M Maisch, Michael L Griffiths, Martin A Becker, Jake J Wood, Kenshu Shimada
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Abstract
The megatooth shark, †Otodus megalodon, which likely reached at least 15 m in total length, is an iconic extinct shark represented primarily by its gigantic teeth in the Neogene fossil record. As one of the largest marine carnivores to ever exist, understanding the biology, evolution, and extinction of †O. megalodon is important because it had a significant impact on the ecology and evolution of marine ecosystems that shaped the present-day oceans. Some attempts inferring the body form of †O. megalodon have been carried out, but they are all speculative due to the lack of any complete skeleton. Here we highlight the fact that the previous total body length estimated from vertebral diameters of the extant white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) for an †O. megalodon individual represented by an incomplete vertebral column is much shorter than the sum of anteroposterior lengths of those fossil vertebrae. This factual evidence indicates that †O. megalodon had an elongated body relative to the body of the modern white shark. Although its exact body form remains unknown, this proposition represents the most parsimonious empirical evidence, which is a significant step towards deciphering the body form of †O. megalodon.
期刊介绍:
Founded in 1997, Palaeontologia Electronica (PE) is the longest running open-access, peer-reviewed electronic journal and covers all aspects of palaeontology. PE uses an external double-blind peer review system for all manuscripts. Copyright of scientific papers is held by one of the three sponsoring professional societies at the author''s choice. Reviews, commentaries, and other material is placed in the public domain. PE papers comply with regulations for taxonomic nomenclature established in the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature and the International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants.