Lucy HicksMegalodon, the largest shark that ever lived, was a fierce predator in prehistoric seas, with a bite force five times as strong as today’s great white.
But it was also a wise mother, new research reveals. An analysis of megalodon teeth found from sites across multiple continents suggests these giants commonly laid their eggs in nurseries to improve their youngsters’ chances of survival, just as some modern sharks do.It is an “exciting” possibility, says Kenshu Shimada, a paleobiologist at DePaul University who wasn’t involved with the work.
Still, he says, more research is needed to confirm the findings.Many modern marine animals, from shrimp to sharks, rely on nurseries.