The newly released preview for 'Meg 2: The Trench' depicts a prehistoric megalodon shark engaging in a fierce encounter with a Tyrannosaurus rex, offering a thrilling spectacle for viewers. The movie, featuring actor Jason Statham, serves as a sequel to the 2018 film 'The Meg,' in which scientists encountered a colossal 75-foot-long Otodus megalodon in the Pacific Ocean.
These ancient sharks are renowned as the largest and most formidable predators in the history of vertebrates, with fossil evidence indicating lengths of up to 65 feet (20m). The MailOnline delves into whether it is possible for a megalodon shark to cross paths with a T. rex and win a confrontation.
Period or Era When They Lived
The megalodon lived between 23 and 2.6 million years ago, while the Tyrannosaurus rex (T. rex) lived around 68 to 66 million years ago. Due to the significant time gap of approximately 70 million years between their respective periods, these two species could never have interacted in reality.
Moreover, the megalodon is believed to have gone extinct due to factors like climate change and competition for food with other marine predators, including the smaller great white shark, as per a 2022 study. Similarly, the T. rex became extinct during the mass extinction event that wiped out most dinosaurs.
Food and Habitat
Megalodon fossils have been found on every continent except Antarctica, indicating their wide geographical distribution. They inhabited various marine habitats, ranging from shallow coastal waters to deep offshore environments. Researchers found that megalodons fed on other predators and organisms higher up the food chain, including potential cannibalism.
Fossil evidence shows characteristic bite marks on prey like whales and dolphins. Although megalodons relied on gills to extract oxygen from water, they may have surfaced periodically to breathe or feed at the water's surface.
On the other hand, MailOnline previously reported that T. rex fossils have been primarily discovered in what is now North America, particularly in the Hell Creek Formation spanning parts of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. T. rex was a terrestrial predator with massive jaws, serrated teeth, and the ability to bite through bone. It is considered a top predator that fed on other dinosaurs.
While these apex predators lived in different time periods and environments, they share adaptations for consuming large prey. The question of who would win in a battle between them on a US beach remains hypothetical and cannot be definitively answered.
READ ALSO : Tyrannosaurus Rex Speed Found to be Surprisingly Slow That Even Humans Can 'Outwalk' Them
Physical Strength and Speed
The maximum size of the megalodon has been a subject of debate due to the scarcity of complete fossilized skeletons. However, a 2021 study estimated its length to be up to 65 feet (20 m), with a dorsal fin larger than a fully grown human. In comparison, the T. rex reached lengths of up to 40 feet (12 m) and stood about 12 feet (4 m) tall, making it significantly smaller.
The weight of these creatures has also been a topic of investigation. Different studies have provided varying estimates, but one 2021 study suggested that the megalodon could have weighed over 134,500 pounds (61,000 kg), approximately four times the weight of a T. rex. However, other studies have proposed even higher weights, with some indicating that megalodons of the maximum length could exceed 220,500 pounds (100,000 kg).
When it comes to its feeding capabilities, the megalodon had a stomach volume of nearly 10,000 liters, allowing it to consume prey up to 26 feet (8 m) in length. Its colossal mouth housed 276 triangular teeth measuring about eight inches (20 cm) in diagonal length. Research indicates that the megalodon's bite force could range from 108,500 to 182,200 newtons.
Meg Vs. T. Rex: Who Would Win?
In a hypothetical scenario where the megalodon and T. rex were to meet on land, it appears that the dinosaur would be at a disadvantage. The megalodon surpasses the T. rex in size and has the ability to crush through strong bones.
However, recent research from Vanderbilt University suggests that T. rex may have had a similar number of brain neurons as modern primates, indicating problem-solving abilities and potential intelligence to avoid risky situations such as a shark attack on the beach.
Nevertheless, it is important to note that the megalodon and T. rex lived in different prehistoric periods and would never have encountered each other in reality.
RELATED ARTICLE: Megalodon Extinction: Super-Sized Monstrous Sharks May Have Lost to Great White Shark in Competing for Preys [Study]
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