There are many clues regarding a fossil vanished animal’s lifestyle, behaviors, evolution, as well as extinction that may be found in its nutrition. Analyzing the nutrition of a living animal over millions of years is challenging for a variety of reasons, including the poor retention of chemical dietary markers in organic material. Otodus megalodon, the biggest shark known to have lived, was studied by a multinational number of researchers using a novel technology.
Sharks such as Otodus megalodon also referred to as megalodon, flourished between 23 million years back until 3.6 million years throughout the past in waters all over the world and may have grown to a length of 20 meters. It’s worth noting that in contrast, the biggest great white sharks in the world today are barely six meters long. Megalodon’s giddiness and eventual demise have been attributed to a variety of variables, with nutrition and dietary rivalry being cited as the most important.
Researchers can now determine an organism’s trophic status, which shows how high into the food chain it consumes, using this new technology. Studying present and ancient shark teeth from throughout the world, scientists studied zinc stable isotope levels in the teeth from megalodon, contemporary and prehistoric great white sharks, and other species.
According to findings, it is clear that megalodon and its predecessor both were high-feeding top predators. In addition, zinc isotope readings of Early Pliocene shark fangs in North Carolina, indicate that the earliest great white sharks and megalodons had a relatively similar trophic level.
According to the findings presented here, there is probably some commonality in prey that both shark types target. Even though more study is required, it seems that megalodon and Early Pliocene situated great white sharks may have competed for food.
Zinc is an innovative new isotope technology that opens a new insight into the past. Utilizing zinc isotopes to study the food and nutritional ecology of prehistoric creatures is an approach that may be used to study other fossil creatures, such as our own relatives, spanning millions of years.
