The basking shark Megalodon not extinct?

In 1954, the Australian ship "Rachel Cohen" fell overhaul in one of the docks of Adelaide. Repair began with "spring-cleaning". We undertook to clean the bottom of the ship from the shells, and found 17 huge teeth stuck in the skin. Each - 8 x 10 cm.

For the entire history of the Earth such teeth could boast only one "fish" - Megalodon. One problem: She died 1, 5 million years ago. Or not?

On the face terrible, such as in

26, 5 million years old giant bloodthirsty shark, known as Megalodon (Carcharodon megalodon), prevailed in the oceans. Nothing worse than nature has not yet been created. Scientists estimate that Megalodon in length reaches 20 to 30 meters! And weighed from 50 to 100 tons. His favorite foods were sperm whales and baleen whales, which he snacking, they say, at times.

Can you imagine the size of the jaws of the monstrous fish, if the 10-meter whale was hunted ordinary for her? These superhischniki stood on the top of the food chain. And, if I may say so, kept at bay all aquatic life.

Huge teeth, which are found throughout the ocean, indicating an incredibly wide resettlement Megalodon, have a triangular shape and resembles a shark. The only difference is the scale. The tooth of the largest - the great white shark - not more than 6 cm while Megalodon most modest "Fang" is 10 cm, well, normal size for them -. 17-18 cm.

Actually, on this something Zubkov scientists and were able to recreate the look and about the size of the predator, for the largest specimens were female - "megalodonihi". First reconstructed jaw, and then - and the "figure", taking into account the fact that the nearest relative of the Megalodon is a great white shark. The result was a kind of "great white", only more "big-boned", besides fascinated steroids: fearsome skeleton is now emblazoned at the Maritime Museum of Maryland (USA).

to pass by and do not shudder with horror is simply impossible. Baggy skull, massive jaws and a short, blunt snout - unattractive appearance. As a joke ichthyologists, "on the face of Megalodon was a pig." Next to this giant, a person feels just a grain of sand. A view from the 2-meter jaw with the rows of teeth 5, shudder. One is forced to rejoice that these monsters is no longer in the ocean.

But does not exactly have? This is just a big question

From a geological point of view, extinct animals recognize if signs of their presence do not show more than 400,000 years. But let's not forget about the Australian ship "Rachel Cohen ': tests have shown that the teeth found in the bottom of the ship, really belonged Megalodon. Well, let's say it was a hoax. But what about the findings of paleontologists and ichthyologists?

Recent Megalodon teeth found in the vicinity of Tahiti and our Baltic Sea, have been dated almost as a "junior" - they were given to 11 thousand years. They do not even have time to turn to stone as it should! Feel the difference: 1, 5 million - and 11 thousand years! Do not forget to take into account the fact that the oceans studied by only 10%. So it may be that somewhere - in the depths - and even these are found "charming small fish."

You say that these giant sharks could not go unnoticed? Leave pride. Deep-sea shark, known as megamouth, humanity found only in 1976. And quite by accident: one individual is stuck in the anchor chain of a research vessel in the waters near the island of Oahu (Hawaii). Since then passed 36 years, but during all this time, largemouth shark seen only 25 times - and even then only in the form of dead bodies on the coast. Goblin shark, also known as the "nickname" Goblin discovered its presence in the world's oceans in 1897. And before that it was considered long and hopelessly extinct.

And the whale shark people first "zapelengovali" in 1828, until the time remaining in blissful ignorance of its existence.

In addition, the World Ocean scan nobody spent. And the coast Megalodon never approach - will not allow impressive dimensions. So this is a deep-water shark lifestyle. How deep? Good question. Sperm whales, for example, the largest known to science carnivorous animals can dive to a depth of 3 km long and well there feel: water pressure them uneasy. However, they have to rise to the surface - for a breath of air. Megalodon and do not need it: the oxygen supply their gills. So early, early to delete them from the list of the living!

The meeting with the "beautiful"

A weighty argument in favor of "survivability" Megalodon in his book "Sharks and rays Seas Australia" (1963) known Australian ichthyologist - David George Stead.

In 1918, he worked in the public service and was responsible for commercial fishing in the waters of southern Australia. And his hastily summoned from the port Stevenson local fishermen refused to go to sea, are scared to death of some huge fish - need to consult a specialist. Stead hurried to come. As can be seen questioning fishermen, he found out the following.

Following once and for all routine, early morning lobster fishermen set off for the traps yesterday. We arrived on the scene - to Broughton Island. Divers down under the water, to attach the trap to motor boats. The rest of the team waited quietly for their return. However, the divers ascended immediately. In a panic, they climbed on deck, shouting in different voices: "Shark! A basking shark! Immediately swam away !! " Indeed, the surface of the water fishermen spotted the outline of a huge terrible fish. Without wasting a second, they hurried to leave a terrible place. And coming to himself with horror, divers were told that descended to the bottom, they saw an incredibly large ash-white shark. She devoured placed traps with lobster and it did not stop or anchor chains or cables.

According to the stories of fishermen it appeared that the shark has reached a 35-meter length. And her head was the size of a barn roof for boats.

Ichthyologist not immediately believe the fishermen: common sense prompted him that the Megalodon (and judging by the size of the shark, it could be the only one) could not be resurrected and announced in Australian waters. On the other hand, Stead realized: the fishermen have no reason to lie and evade work, because of the catch depends on their revenue. In addition, to invent such a story, it required a certain amount of imagination. Fishermen were experienced sailors, but not dreamers.

So as a scientist Stead suffered a complete fiasco: he could neither deny nor confirm the word lobster catchers. For myself, as an ichthyologist concluded, we can not exclude the fact that the Megalodon still live in the oceans. And you know, we tend to agree with him. Who knows what it hides - is the deep blue sea?