In 1954, the Australian ship «Rachel Cohen» embarked on a major overhaul of the docks in Adelaide. Repair began with «spring-cleaning». Undertook to clean the bottom of the ship from the shells, and found 17 large teeth stuck in the skin. Each — size 8 to 10 cm
During the history of the Earth these teeth could boast only one «fish» — Megalodon. One problem: she died 1.5 million years ago. Or not?
On the face of the terrible, same inside
26.5 million years of giant bloodthirsty shark, known as Megalodon (Carcharodon megalodon), prevailed in the world’s oceans. Nothing more terrible nature has not yet created. Scientists estimate that the long Megalodon reached 20 to 30 meters! And weighed from 50 to 100 tons. His favorite food was sperm and baleen whales, which he snacking, they say, at times.
Can you imagine the size of the mouth of this monstrous fish, if the 10-meter-long whale was her ordinary hunted? These superhischniki stood on top of the food chain. And, if I may say so, kept at bay all aquatic inhabitants.
Huge teeth, which are found throughout the oceans, which means an extremely wide dispersal Megalodon, have a triangular shape and remind shark. The only difference is scale. Tooth largest — the great white shark — not more than 6 cm while the Megalodon leanest «Fang» is 10 cm, well, normal size for them — 17-18 cm
Actually, on this-that scientists and Zubkov could recreate some shape and size of predator, for the largest specimens were female — «megalodonihi.» First reconstructed the jaw, and then — «shape», taking into account the fact that the nearest relative of the Megalodon is a large white shark. The result was a kind of «great white», but more «boned», and besides, carried away with steroids: a frightening kind of skeleton is now painted in the Maritime Museum of Maryland (USA).
Pass by and not shudder with horror — is simply impossible. Baggy skull, massive jaws and a short, blunt snout — look unattractive. As a joke ichthyologists, «on the face Megalodon a pig. » Next to this giant of a man feels just a grain of sand. And from the look on the 2-meter jaw with 5 rows of teeth, shudder. One is forced to rejoice that these monsters are no more in the ocean.
But is it really there? This is just a big question.
From a geological point of view, the extinct animals recognize in the event that evidence of their presence is not detected for more than 400 000 years. But let’s not forget about the Australian vessel «Rachel Cohen»: analysis showed 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?
Last Megalodon teeth found in the vicinity of our Tahiti and the Baltic Sea, were dated almost as a «youth» — they were given to 11 thousand years. They did not even have time to turn to stone as follows! See the difference: 1.5 million — and 11 thousand years! Yes, do not forget to take into account the fact that the oceans studied by only 10%. So it may be that somewhere — deep down — and even these are found «charming fish.»
Say that the giant shark could not be overlooked? Leave pride. Deepwater shark known as largemouth, humanity discovered only in 1976. And then quite by accident: one individual stuck in the anchor chain of a research vessel in the waters near the island of Oahu (Hawaii). Since then, 36 years have passed, but for all this time mouthed 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» the goblin, found its presence in the world’s oceans in 1897. And before that 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.
Besides scanning ocean nobody spent. And to the coast Megalodon never approach — do not allow large size. So this shark is a deep-water life. 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 feel fine there: water pressure them uneasy. True, they have to rise to the surface — for a breath of air. Megalodon and do not need it: oxygen supply their gills. So early, too early to write them off the list of live!
Meeting with «beautiful»
Weighty argument in favor of the «survivability» Megalodon gives in his book «Sharks and Rays of Australia Seas» (1963) is a renowned Australian ichthyologist — David George Stead.
In 1918, he worked in the civil service and was responsible for commercial fishing in the southern waters of Australia. And his hastily summoned from the port Stevenson local fishermen refuse to go to sea, scared to death a huge fish — need specialist advice. Stead rushed to attend. As the questioning of fishermen, he found out the following.
Once and for all by following a routine, early morning lobster catchers went for traps set the day before. Arrived on the scene — the island of Bruton. Divers went down under the water to hang traps for motorboats. The rest of the team was waiting for them to return safely. However, the divers went right there. In a panic, they climbed to the deck, shouting in different voices «Shark! Giant shark! Immediately swim away from here! »
Indeed, the water surface shape fishermen spotted a huge terrible fish. Not wasting a second, they hurried to leave the scary place. And coming to himself with horror, the divers said they descended to the bottom, they saw the incredibly large ash-white shark. She devoured placed trap lobsters and did not stop for chains or ropes.
According to the stories of fishermen left, that shark reached a 35-meter length. Her head was the size of the shed for boats.
Ichthyologist not immediately believe fishermen: common sense it suggests that Megalodon (And judging by the size of the shark, it could be only one) could not be resurrected and will be announced in Australian waters. On the other hand, Stead realized: the fishermen there is no reason to lie and avoid the work, because they depend on the catch revenue. In addition to inventing such a story, required a certain amount of imagination. The fishermen were experienced sailors, not dreamers.
So as a scientist Stead complete failure: he could neither deny nor confirm the word lobster fishers. For themselves ichthyologist concluded, we can not exclude the fact that the Megalodon still live in the oceans. And you know, we tend to agree. Who knows what it hides — is the deep blue sea?
Step № 22 2012
Category: Chupacabra and unknown creatures