Jump to content

Panama exhibits the remains of the megalodon, the largest shark in history


Recommended Posts

  • Moderators
Quote

Panama exhibits the remains of the megalodon, the largest shark in history

Thu, 08/23/2018 - 16:44

Normal (1).jpg

A jaw with fossilized teeth belonging to the most giant prehistoric shark, the 'carcharocles megalodon', is exhibited at the Museum of Biodiversity of Panama, to portray the extinction of this species, reported today the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP).

This giant shark that once inhabited the Panamanian seas, and became famous after the Hollywood movie of the same name (Megalodon), has its space in the enclosure with the exhibition of a jaw built with fiberglass and 184 teeth real size of a human's hand, with about 10 million years.

The entity said in a statement that the piece belongs to the University of Florida (USA), which was involved in fossil excavations in the expansion of the Panama Canal, jointly with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI).

Moreover, a report by the Ibero-American Agency for the Dissemination of Science and Technology, said paleontologists found more than 400 shark incisors in Gatún, in the Panamanian Atlantic, of which more than 28 were identified as belonging to newborn and young specimens of the species "carcharocles megalodon".

To understand about the extinction of the megalodon, the marine biologist at the state University of Panama, Aramís Averza, explained there is a theory that when the Isthmus of Panama was born, it changed the pattern of world circulation and migration, affecting the species by not having whales, their source of food.

To complement, Luis Miranda, head of the guide of the Biomuseum, pointed out that Panama at the time when the megalodons lived was not fully emerged, and many parts such as the province of Colón was under the sea and bays were formed, which were used by the females to give birth to their young sharks.

He said the teeth of the megalodon had different concentric lines, but the outer line was the oldest teeth and as they were lost they were replaced by the back row, in this way they were constantly renewing their teeth, which is why scientists have found hundreds of teeth of this species.

Miranda explained the great prehistoric shark that weighed about 100 tons and whose name means "big tooth", disappeared from the seas about 2 million years ago.

He argued that one of the features of this immense animal is that it fed on whales, but probably, they also devoured their own species and any marine being that attracted their attention, converting it into the "king of the seas".

For those who seek to know more about this species, the tourist entity urged to visit the Biomuseum located on the banks of the Canal, with a striking and colorful construction that opened its doors in 2014 and is dedicated to natural history.

Meanwhile, he pointed out that the Biomuseum, a unique work by Canadian architect Frank Gehry in Latin America, is one of the tourist products that the entity promotes locally and internationally.

"This museum of natural history portrays in 4 thousand square meters the history of how the Panamanian Isthmus emerged from the sea three million years ago, joining continents, separating a large ocean in two and how it impacted the biodiversity of the Earth," said marketing director of the ATP, Enrique Sánchez.

It is expected that by 2019, the museum will open three new exhibitions: Divided Oceans, The Living Network and Panama is the Museum.

 

https://www.panamatoday.com/life-style/panama-exhibits-remains-megalodon-largest-shark-history-7653

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...