Shark teeth contain signs of a deadly rivalry between the two species.
, a paleontologist at the College of Charleston in South Carolina who also wasn’t involved in the research, and his colleagues previously suggested.
By contrast, zinc—an essential nutrient for plants, animals, and other organisms—is deposited in the strongest part of the teeth: the enamel, or in the case of sharks, enameloid. This is preserved when the teeth fossilize. What’s more, the proportion of “lighter” zinc increases relative to the “heavier” zinc isotope in animals higher up the food chain. Scientists have only recently begun using this technique, McCormack says, and his team’s study is the first to apply it to sharks.
“I wouldn’t necessarily say they were definitely the top predators of that marine ecosystem,” McCormack says. But both shark species “were high up the food chain for sure.” Baleen whales consume vast quantities of organisms low in the food chain such as krill, instead of the bulkier fish, seals, and other animals favored by toothed whales, Boessenecker said. This means thatScientists discovered new shark species with chainsaw-like nosesLater, baleen whales—much smaller than their present-day relatives—appeared on the scene and might have been fair game for megalodon and early great whites.
Indonesia Berita Terbaru, Indonesia Berita utama
Similar News:Anda juga dapat membaca berita serupa dengan ini yang kami kumpulkan dari sumber berita lain.
Megalodon sharks may have been forced into extinction by great whitesAn analysis of zinc isotopes in ancient shark teeth suggests megalodon and great whites ate the same foods, potentially contributing to megalodon’s mysterious extinction
Baca lebih lajut »
Did the great white bring down megalodon, its massive rival?The two shark species, which once coexisted, likely hunted some of the same prey. This competition could potentially have been one reason why the 65-foot-long (20-meter-long) megalodon went extinct…
Baca lebih lajut »
In an ancient shark showdown, 'Jaws' may have doomed 'The Meg'An examination of the zinc content of teeth from sharks both living and extinct is providing clues about the demise of the largest-known shark, indicating the mighty megalodon may have been out-competed by the great white shark in ancient seas.
Baca lebih lajut »
Great White Shark Devouring Seal at Beach, First Sighting of SeasonA great white shark was spotted for the first time this season, attacking a seal right next to a public beach.
Baca lebih lajut »
This Animal May Have Helped Drive The Fearsome Megalodon to ExtinctionMegalodon. The very name conjures awe: A giant shark that once dominated the world's oceans, big enough to swallow a human whole. Such a beast – known only from teeth and vertebrae that survived the 3.6 million years since it went extinct – must
Baca lebih lajut »