What megalodon ate: scientists talked about the diet of the world's largest shark

According to the team, the largest sharks ate all other predators. This means that megalodons were the highest

predators and were at the top of the food chain. 

Megatooth sharks got this namethanks to its massive teeth, each of which can be larger than a human hand. This group includes the megalodon, the largest shark that has ever lived on Earth, as well as several other related species.

Megalodon tooth. Credit: Harry Maisch

Now a team of researchers from Princetonhas found evidence that megalodon and some of its ancestors were at the highest rung of the prehistoric food chain - what scientists call the highest trophic level. 

To draw these conclusions, the team useda new technique for measuring nitrogen isotopes in shark teeth. Biologists have long known that the more nitrogen-15 in the body, the higher its trophic level, but scientists have never before been able to measure the minute amount of nitrogen that remains in the teeth of megalodons.

There are a lot of shark teeth left and they are goodare saved. Therefore, the nitrogen signatures in the enamel can determine their status in the food web, regardless of whether a tooth fell out of a shark's mouth millions of years ago or yesterday.

The authors were able to trace the trophic level of megalodons based on their fossilized teeth. Several pieces of evidence even indicate that cannibalism has occurred among Megatooth sharks. 

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