For such an infinite animal, having to make use of a lot vitality continually to manage its physique temperature might have contributed to its downfall because the world modified. The timing of megalodons’ extinction coincides with the cooling of the Earth’s temperature, the researchers mentioned.
“The truth that megalodon disappeared suggests the doubtless vulnerability of being warm-blooded as a result of warm-bloodedness requires fixed meals consumption to maintain excessive metabolism,” Shimada mentioned.
“Probably, there was a shift within the marine ecosystem as a result of climatic cooling,” inflicting the ocean degree to drop, altering the habitats of the populations of the forms of meals megalodon consumed akin to marine mammals and resulting in its extinction.
In contrast with different apex predators, megalodon was a lot bigger, and due to this fact extra susceptible to modifications in populations of prey, mentioned lead research creator Michael Griffiths, professor of environmental science, geochemist and paleoclimatologist at William Paterson College in New Jersey.
However studying extra concerning the historic shark might nonetheless assist scientists higher perceive the threats comparable marine animals face at this time.
“One of many large implications for this work is that it highlights the vulnerability of huge apex predators, such the fashionable nice white shark, to local weather change given similarities of their biology with megalodon,” Griffiths mentioned.