DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 21: General view of an animatronic Megalodon shark during a press review of Jurassic Quest at Del Mar Fairgrounds on January 21, 2022 in Del Mar, California. (Photo by Daniel Knighton/Getty Images) NEW YORK (AP) - Today's sharks have nothing on their ancient cousins.
A giant shark that roamed the oceans millions of years ago could have devoured a creature the size of a killer whale in just five bites, new research suggests.For their study published Wednesday, researchers used fossil evidence to create a 3D model of the megalodon — one of the biggest predatory fish of all time — and find clues about its life.At around 50 feet (16 meters) from nose to tail, the megalodon was bigger than a school bus, according to the study in the journal Science Advances.
That's about two to three times the size of today's great white shark. The megalodon’s gaping jaw allowed it to feed on other big creatures.
Once it filled its massive stomach, it could roam the oceans for months at a time, the researchers suggest.A second shark attack on Long Island's Smith Point Beach in less than a week has lead to officials closing the beach after a tiger shark knocked a man off a paddleboard and bit him in the leg, causing a 4-inch gash.