Megalodons ate their brothers in the womb: the harsh life of the most bloodthirsty monsters of our planet (4 photos)

The bloodthirstiness of sharks has long been the subject of horror films. However, all the stories about attacks on people and devouring all living things around are child's play compared to what their fossil relatives did millions of years ago. Scientists have named these sea predators megalodons, which literally translates as "big tooth".





It was the huge teeth, the size of a palm, that archaeologists discovered before other remains. The length of this ancient "fish" reached 15 meters. For comparison: modern white sharks are 3 times smaller than their extinct ancestors. Already at birth, the cubs of these monsters were 1.8 meters long - that is, as long as an adult human.



Megalodon compared to white, tiger sharks and humans

In terms of aggressiveness, megalodons were also not inferior to their offspring. The brutal fight for food began for them in the womb. Unlike other fish, sharks do not spawn, but lay large eggs or even carry their offspring to a certain period.

Scientists from the University of Chicago found out during their research that megalodons also belonged to the second type. However, unlike mammals, in which the fetus receives nutrition steadily through the placenta throughout pregnancy, the young of ancient sharks matured in relative autonomy.





When the embryo was formed, it had a small supply of nutrients, which ran out even before birth. At this stage, it hatched from an egg inside the uterus, but was still too small to live independently in the sea - but already formed enough to have a snack. The mother's body secreted a special liquid rich in lipids to help, but this was not enough. And only the brothers nearby could diversify the menu.

From this moment on, the megalodon began a real struggle for survival. Strong cubs devoured the weak, those that hatched early - neighboring maturing eggs. By the end of pregnancy, only a few sharks remained, or even just one, like Duncan MacLeod in the famous action movie.



"Megalodons ate their brothers in the womb," scientists believe. By maturity, these sea monsters could make the most powerful "bite" in the world

The reward for the strongest was a long life - almost 90 years of violence and bloody hunting. During the first half of this period, ancient sharks grew in length, annually adding 15-20 cm. Around 46 years, they reached their final size. Scientists were also able to clarify this period thanks to the study of megalodon remains.

It turned out that the spine of ancient fish is similar to a tree trunk - annual rings are visible on its cut. And the hypothesis about the nuances of gestation was taken from modern times. Some shark species are viviparous and give birth to offspring in the same way as millions of years ago. And, as for distant ancestors, natural selection begins for them even before birth.

This is what the world of wild nature is like, it never ceases to amaze!