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The largest shark in the fossil record is the megalodon (Otodus megalodon), a colossal Neogene lamniform. The range of estimates of the maximum length for megalodon are from 17 to 20.3 m (56 to 67 ft), with a mass ranging from 65 to 114 short tons (59 to 103 t). [41] [42] [43] It is also regarded as the largest macro-predatory fish ever.
Fossil remains show a trend for specimens to be larger on average in the Southern Hemisphere than in the Northern, with mean lengths of 11.6 and 9.6 meters (38 and 31 ft), respectively; and also larger in the Pacific than the Atlantic, with mean lengths of 10.9 and 9.5 meters (36 and 31 ft) respectively.
Leedsichthys is an extinct genus of pachycormid fish that lived in the oceans of the Middle to Late Jurassic. [1] It is the largest ray-finned fish, and amongst the largest fish known to have ever existed.
It exceeded 3 m (9.8 ft) in length, and would have weighed in at around 200 kg (440 lb), much larger than any other known mustelid, living or extinct. [155] [156] [157] There were other giant otters, like Siamogale, at around 50 kg (110 lb) [158] and Megalenhydris, which was larger than a modern-day giant river otter. [159]
Size of Paraceratherium (dark grey) compared to a human and other rhinos (though one study suggests Palaeoloxodon namadicus may have been a larger land mammal). The blue whale is the largest mammal of all time, with the longest known specimen being 33 m (108.3 ft) long and the heaviest weighted specimen being 190 tonnes.
A new study finds that megatooth sharks’ warm-blood adaptation and giant size may have played a role in their extinction.
Within the Otodus lineage; O. chubutensis is the succeeding species of O. angustidens and is followed by O. megalodon. [3] In short, O. chubutensis is considered a possible ancestor of O. megalodon. [3] [8] [9] However, due to its co-existence with O. megalodon during the Miocene and Pliocene epochs, it is regarded as a morpho-species. [3]
Like other known megatooth sharks, the fossils of O. angustidens indicate that it was considerably larger than the extant great white shark, with the largest individuals possibly measuring up to 11–12 metres (36–39 ft) long. [7] [8] A well preserved specimen from New Zealand is estimated at 9.3 m (31 ft) in length. [5]