Page 119 - (DK) I Can’t Believe It! 2

IT CAN’T BE TRUE! 117

Megalodon’s dorsal fin
may have been taller
than a man.

Megalodon
may have
grown to be
Some experts think megalodon between 7 and 11
was very similar to today’s times the length
great white shark, but much of an adult
bigger. It may not have been scuba diver.
closely related, however. It
The pectoral fin lived in all the world’s oceans
provided lift, and first appeared around
stopping the shark 17–16 million years ago.
from sinking.
FAST FACTS
Today’s biggest shark is not the great white, Megalodon’s huge teeth are the most
but the whale shark, a gentle giant that feeds common fossil remains of the creature.
on plankton—tiny floating creatures. The great They are the same shape as the teeth
white is the biggest predatory shark—one that of the great white shark, but more than
hunts down individual prey, such as fish. three times the height.

Megalodon Megalodon tooth
52–65 ft 6½ in (17 cm)
(16–20 m) long,
55 tons (50 metric tons)
Great white
Whale shark shark tooth
41ft 6 in (12.65 m) 2 in (5 cm)
long, 23.5 tons
(21.5 metric tons)
Great white shark
20 ft (6.1 m) long,
2 tons (1.9 metric tons)

US_116-117_309600_ICBT_Biggest_shark.indd 117 19/12/17 2:35 pm