Florida Museum Pressroom » megalodon

Florida Museum scientists discover megalodon shark nursery

Gerber,Logan R — Mon, 10 May 2010 17:13:45 +0000

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida Museum of Natural History researchers have discovered a 10-million-year-old Neotropical nursery area for the extinct megalodon shark in Panama, providing fossil evidence the fish used these areas to protect their young for millions of years.

Appearing in this week’s edition of the journal PLoS ONE, the article is the first thorough study of megalodon juveniles and gives scientists a better picture of shark behavior.

“The study provides evidence of megalodon behavior in the fossil record,” said lead author Catalina Pimiento, who just completed a master’s degree in zoology from the University of Florida and worked in the Florida Museum’s vertebrate paleontology division. “Behavior doesn’t fossilize, but we were able to interpret ancient protection strategies used by extinct sharks based on the fossil record.”

Previously suggested fossil shark paleo-nursery areas, the Paleocene Williamsburg Formation and late Oligocene Chandler Bridge Formation of South Carolina, were based only on the anecdotal presence of juvenile teeth accompanied by marine mammals.

“Neither of the collections from previously suggested nursery grounds has been as rigorously analyzed as the specimens in this study, which better supports the presence of this paleo-nursery area,” Pimiento said.

In the current study, funded by the National Science Foundation, researchers collected 400 fossil shark teeth between 2007 and 2009 from the shallow marine Gatun Formation, which connected the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea during the late Miocene Epoch in Panama. Most of the 28 Carcharocles megalodon specimens were surprisingly small, Pimiento said, and analysis determined the size did not relate to tooth position in the jaw or the size of the species during the late Miocene.

“Our study suggests the specimens represent mostly juveniles with lengths between 2 and 10.5 meters,” Pimiento said.

Michael Gottfried, associate professor and curator of vertebrate paleontology at Michigan State University Museum, helped review the PLoS ONE article. His method of determining the skeletal anatomy of megalodon sharks based on comparisons with the great white shark was used in this study. Though Gottfried said he did not completely agree with all of the study’s conclusions, he believes the findings are interesting.

“Shark nursery areas are very poorly known, both for living and fossil species,” Gottfried said. “If the teeth from Panama described by Catalina and her collaborators do indeed come from a nursery area for the giant megalodon shark, they have the potential to provide a lot of interesting information on the paleobiology of this enormous, but still very enigmatic, fossil species.”

Nursery areas for sharks have ample food resources and serve as protection for juveniles and neonates from predators. Some scientists argue megalodon did not need nursery areas to protect their young because it was the largest shark that ever lived. But researchers discovered teeth in the study area from juvenile megalodon sharks as small as 2 meters long. Other studies also have confirmed present-day large sharks such as the tiger shark, great hammerhead and the white shark use nursery areas.

Other studies have shown white sharks, which belong to the same order as megalodon, seasonally return to the eastern Pacific and other coastal “hot spots” for feeding, foraging and mating. The researchers considered the hypothesis that megalodon sharks used the grounds for feeding and reproduction rather than as a protective nursery area, but rejected the possibility based on the high number of juveniles, presence of neonates, shallow depth of the area and the scarcity of large mammals.

“This study of the megalodon teeth from Panama and its paleobiologic implications demonstrates the potential information that other fossil shark faunas can give us, including survival strategies, feeding habits and life histories,” said Dana Ehret, second author and vertebrate paleontology graduate student at the Florida Museum.

Other authors are Bruce MacFadden, Florida Museum of Natural History vertebrate paleontology curator, and Gordon Hubbell of Jaws International.

Most of the teeth collected are located in the Florida Museum of Natural History, which also houses the Florida Program for Shark Research and the International Shark Attack File.

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Sources: Dana Ehret, 352-871-7944, dehret@flmnh.ufl.edu
Catalina Pimiento, pimientoc@ufl.edu
Writer: Vilma Jarvinen, vjarvinen@flmnh.ufl.edu
Media contact: Paul Ramey, 352-273-2054, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu

Florida Museum shark exhibit that began in High Springs traveling far and wide

Gerber,Logan R — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:41:09 +0000

Photos available

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — From its humble beginnings at Archie’s Welding Services in High Springs, the Florida Museum of Natural History’s “Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived,” exhibit has traveled many miles since its debut in June 2007.

After its display at the Florida Museum in Gainesville, the exhibit made a trans-pacific journey to the Bishop Museum in Honolulu where it was well received by more than 50,000 visitors from Oct. 11, 2008, to Jan. 11. The Miami Science Museum displayed the exhibit from Feb. 21 through Sept. 13 to an audience of more than 60,000.

“I would venture to say that the full-scale model is one of the most favorite parts—it’s definitely mine,” said Adriana Marin, Miami Science Museum marketing manager. “It’s really impressive because you can see it in comparison with your own size.”

The “Megalodon” exhibit features a 60-foot-long walk-through sculpture of the massive shark that vanished nearly 2 million years ago, and highlights the evolution, biology and misconceptions regarding this marine predator. Archie’s fabricated the life-size metal model of the prehistoric shark, and the company’s work was featured in the national trade publication “Welding Journal.”

“Megalodon” is now on display at the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News, and is scheduled to travel to museums in Kansas, Mississippi and North Carolina before its arrival at the Smithsonian Institution in early 2012.

The Florida Museum developed “Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived” with support from the National Science Foundation and displayed it June 16, 2007, through Jan. 6, 2008, to more than 115,000 visitors — a 22 percent increase in visitation from the same time period the previous year.

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Writer: Lauren Churchwell
Media contact: Paul Ramey, 352-273-2054, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu

Preserved shark fossil adds evidence to great white’s origins

Gerber,Logan R — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:47:16 +0000

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A new Florida Museum of Natural History study could help resolve a long-standing debate in shark paleontology: From which line of species did the modern great white shark evolve?

For the last 150 years, some paleontologists have concluded the great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias, is a smaller relative of the line that produced Carcharodon megalodon, the largest carnivorous fish known. Other paleontologists disagree, arguing the great white shark evolved instead from the broad-toothed mako shark. The second group contends megalodon, which grew to a length of 60 feet, should have its genus name switched to Carcharocles to reflect its different ancestry.

The study in the March 12 issue of the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology falls squarely into the mako camp. It concludes megalodon and modern white sharks are much more distantly related than paleontologists initially believed.

This artist’s rendering shows how an extinct white shark species, the subject of a new Florida Museum study, may have looked. The study in the March 12, 2009, issue of the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, based on a well-preserved 4- to 5-million-year-old fossil, concludes modern white sharks descended from mako sharks and not from megatooth sharks as originally believed. Art by Jason Bourque

“I think that this specimen will clarify things,” said lead author Dana Ehret, a vertebrate paleontology graduate student at the Florida Museum of Natural History located on the UF campus. “When we only have isolated teeth to describe, it’s very hard to come to a definitive conclusion.”

The study is based on a remarkably well preserved 4- to 5-million-year-old fossil from Peru of an early white shark species: a complete jaw with 222 teeth intact and 45 vertebrae. Most ancient shark species are known only from isolated teeth. Based on tooth size and analysis of growth rings within the vertebrae, the shark was about 20 years old and 17 to 18 feet long, a size in the range of modern white sharks.

This well-preserved fossil is the only intact partial skull ever found of a white shark that lived 5 million years ago. The jaw, in this photo taken March 6, 2009, has 222 teeth intact, some in rows up to six teeth deep. Photo by Jeff Gage

Having the teeth in place allows researchers to see important distinguishing characteristics that help determine a fossil’s genus and species, such as whether a tooth curves toward the outside of the jaw or its midline, Ehret said. He believes the fossil belongs to a white shark species closely related to Isurus hastalis, a broad-toothed mako shark that probably grew to 27 feet long and lived 9 million to 10 million years ago.

An olive-grove farmer trained in fossil collection discovered it near his home in the desert of southern Peru in 1988. It has since been part of a private collection and was donated to the Florida Museum of Natural History in December.

“It’s the only fossilized partial skull of a white shark that’s ever been found,” said Gordon Hubbell, the fossil’s previous owner and study co-author.

Hubbell purchased the fossil from the farmer during his first trip to Peru, which coincidentally occurred only a few days after the discovery.

Dana Ehret, the lead author of a UF study on the great white sharks’ origins, is seen here with the shark fossil in the study at Gordon Hubbell’s private gallery in Gainesville, Fla., on March 6, 2009. Hubbell, a study co-author, recently donated the fossil to the Florida Museum of Natural History. Photo by Jeff Gage

The specimen came from an area known as the Pisco Formation, famous for its rich fossil beds dating from the late Miocene to Pleistocene, about 1 million to 9 million years ago. The region was once a sheltered, shallow marine environment ideal for preserving skeletons. The formation has produced articulated broad-toothed mako shark skeletons as well as fossils of whales, aquatic sloths and sea turtles.

The study strengthens the evolutionary link between the extinct mako and the modern white shark, said vertebrate paleontologist Kenshu Shimada, an associate professor at DePaul University in Chicago. Shimada said paleontologists now need fossil skeletons from megalodon and a shark from the extinct Otodontidae family such as Otodus, a large prehistoric mackerel shark that lived about 40 million to 60 million years ago.

“If we can demonstrate the strong link between Carcharocles and Otodus from such skeletal remains,” Shimada said, “we may be able to settle the evolutionary and taxonomic debates.”

Megalodon was first classified in the same genus as the modern white shark in the 1840s based on the similarity of tooth shape and serrations specialized for eating marine mammals. Mako sharks have no serrations because they feed primarily on fish.

Ehret says the shark fossil’s coarse serrations are evidence of a transition between broad-toothed mako sharks and modern white sharks.

“Here we have a shark that’s gaining serrations,” he said. “It’s becoming a white shark, but it’s not quite there yet.”

The transition from megatooth sharks like megalodon to modern white sharks would require changes in body size and tooth serrations, thickness and enamel, Ehret said. By contrast, the transition from the broad-toothed mako shark to modern white sharks would require only the presence of serrations and a shift in the slant of a key tooth position.

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Source: Dana J. Ehret, 352-871-7944, dehret@flmnh.ufl.edu
Writer: Bill Kanapaux, bkanapaux@flmnh.ufl.edu
Media Contact: Paul Ramey, 352-273-2054, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu

As Gators prepare for Hawaii, Fla. Museum readying Meg exhibit to ship to Aloha State

Gerber,Logan R — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:11:05 +0000

Photos available

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — As the Gators prepare to host the University of Hawaii Warriors Saturday, staff at the Florida Museum of Natural History are feverishly readying its popular Megalodon shark exhibit to ship to the Aloha State for the first stop on its national tour.

Museum employees will begin loading the “Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived” exhibit today for the trans-pacific journey to the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, where it is scheduled to open Oct. 11.

“Its pure chance that the exhibit’s first stop is Honolulu and that we’re shipping it as the Gators prepare to play Hawaii,” said Darcie MacMahon, Florida Museum assistant director for exhibits. “We had the contract before we knew the Gators would be playing Hawaii, but we’re thrilled to be part of this cultural exchange.”

The Megalodon exhibit features a 60-foot-long walk-through sculpture of the massive shark that vanished nearly 2 million years ago, and highlights the evolution, biology and misconceptions regarding this marine predator.

The Florida Museum developed the exhibit with support from the National Science Foundation and displayed it June 16, 2007, through Jan. 6 to more than 115,000 visitors — a 22 percent increase in visitation from the same time period the previous year.

Some components, including millions-of-years-old shark teeth and other precious artifacts, will be flown to Hawaii, but the bulk of the exhibit will be shipped by sea.

“This has all really been a team effort,” said Florida Museum Megalodon project manager Kurt Auffenberg. “The employees working on the exhibit have really done a great job, and we can’t wait to get this thing on the road – or in this case, on the high seas.”

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Source: Darcie MacMahon, 352-273-2053, dmacmahon@flmnh.ufl.edu
Writer: Morgan Lamborn
Media contact: Paul Ramey, 352-273-2054, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu

Fla. Museum ‘Mega-Shark’ home school class for ages 7-11 begins Oct. 15

Gerber,Logan R — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 14:29:37 +0000

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Museum of Natural History is offering a home school class “Mega-Shark” for ages 7-11 starting Oct. 15. Participants will investigate interdisciplinary principles of paleontology, marine biology and ichthyology in a search for the largest shark that ever lived, the 60-foot-long Megalodon.

Pre-registration for the four-day home school session is required. The cost is $72 for Florida Museum members and $86 for non-members. Classes run from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Oct. 15, 22, 29 and Nov. 5. For more information call (352) 846-2000, ext. 248.

This class complements the Florida Museum’s temporary exhibit “Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived,” on display now through Jan. 6, 2008. Visitors enter the exhibit through the jaws of a full-size 60-foot-long Megalodon sculpture and learn about this shark’s life history and the world it inhabited. The exhibit explores the evolution, biology and misconceptions about giant prehistoric sharks. Related to modern great white and mako sharks, Megalodon lived worldwide before vanishing 2 million years ago. The exhibition showcases both fossil and modern shark specimens as well as full-scale models.

Writer: Christine Eschenfelder
Media contact: Paul Ramey, (352) 273-2054, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu

Discovery Channel ‘Shark Week’ features Florida Museum shark expert

Gerber,Logan R — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 17:45:17 +0000

Photo available

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Discovery Channel will feature Florida Museum of Natural History shark expert George Burgess in two programs during its 20th anniversary Shark Week beginning Sunday through Aug. 4.

Burgess is director of the Florida Program for Shark Research and the International Shark Attack File, both located in the museum on the University of Florida campus.

The week’s opening two-hour special, “Ocean of Fear: The Worst Shark Attack Ever,” airs at 9 p.m. Sunday and tells the story of the USS Indianapolis, which sank in the Philippine Sea in 1945. Hundreds of crew members floated in the water for days and many died from injuries, dehydration and exposure. Some were attacked by sharks.

Burgess also will appear in “Perfect Predators” at 9 p.m. on Aug. 1, which features the search for the most perfectly designed shark, including the great white and the extinct Megalodon.

Burgess assisted in creating and is featured in the Florida Museum’s new exhibit “Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived,” on display through Jan. 6, 2008.

Visitors may enter the jaws of a 60-foot-long Megalodon sculpture and learn more about this giant creature that vanished 2 million years ago, including ways to help protect today’s shark population and the oceans.

In the “Ocean of Fear” program, Burgess says “Survivors had to include sharks among their many concerns. Our investigation of the incident involved interviewing survivors who reported sharks scavenged those who were already dead or near death.”

Burgess said sharks played a large role, “but not as big a role as people would believe.” He adds, “The gentlemen were probably more concerned over lack of water, food and shelter than of sharks. I gained a tremendous appreciation for the personal sacrifice and bravery these men exhibited.”

While the thought of being attacked by a shark is frightening, Burgess emphasizes that sharks have more to fear from humans than we do from them.

“Populations are declining at a huge rate,” he said. “The real story is man bites shark, not shark bites man. Obviously, sharks have to be respected for their power and what they can do. Humans aren’t their prey. We are visitors when we enter the sea, so the reality is we should have respect for sharks. Although we’re not a designated food item, mistakes can be made.”

Visit www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/sharks.htm for more information on the Florida Program for Shark Research and www.flmnh.ufl.edu/megalodon/ for more information on the Megalodon exhibit.

Writer: Christine Eschenfelder
Media contact: Paul Ramey, (352) 846-2000, ext. 218, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu

Fla. Museum offers special programs for shark exhibit opening Saturday Bring your fossils and ‘Stump the Smithsonian Paleontologists’ Exhibit features 60-foot-long Megalodon walk-through sculpture

Gerber,Logan R — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 18:10:06 +0000

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Join the Florida Museum of Natural History for a day of family fun 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday during the opening of the national traveling exhibit, “Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived.”

Visitors may bring in their own fossils to try and “Stump the Smithsonian Paleontologists” while having the fossils identified. Other family fun and discovery includes activities and interaction with area fossil club representatives and Florida Museum researchers as well as gallery walks with other local shark experts, including Mark Renz, author of “Megalodon: Hunting the Hunted.” Renz will give a gallery walk at 11 a.m. followed by a book signing session from 12-4 p.m.

Produced by the Florida Museum of Natural History, “Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived,” features a 60-foot-long walk-through sculpture of the giant shark and will on display through Jan. 6, 2008. Admission to the Megalodon exhibit is free, though a donation is suggested.

“The Megalodon exhibit gives us the chance to showcase current museum research and our extensive paleontology collections,” said Florida Museum assistant director for exhibits Darcie MacMahon. “Who can imagine a 60-foot shark cruising all the world’s oceans? The evolution and extinction of this giant beast capture our imaginations and inspire us to learn about shark evolution in general and the importance of shark conservation today.”

At 60 feet long, Megalodon was a dominant marine predator. Sharks are at risk today, with recent population declines attributed to humans. Though Megalodon vanished 2 million years ago, its fascinating story inspires lessons for science and shark conservation.

As unique as Megalodon was, so too is the exhibition that tells the story of this enormous creature. The exhibition showcases both fossil and modern shark specimens as well as full-scale models from several collections. Visitors enter a full-size sculpture of Megalodon through massive jaws and discover this shark’s history and the world it inhabited, including its size, structure, diet, lifespan, relatives, neighbors, evolution and extinction.

“Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived” also provides details on improving the health of our oceans and survival of threatened species. Recent worldwide declines are attributed to commercial and sport over fishing. Scientists estimate humans kill 100 million sharks, skates and rays each year, and the life history of most shark species makes it difficult for populations to rebound. For those wondering why we need sharks, the Megalodon exhibition asks guests to consider the marine food web domino effect caused by over fishing.

Another exhibition section describes how this animal continues to fascinate many, elevating Megalodon to near cult status. From biker jackets to postage stamps, the exhibition explains the many ways Megalodon remains a part of our culture through art, literature, music and film.

“Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived” was produced by the Florida Museum of Natural History with support from the National Science Foundation.

For more information, visit http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/megalodon/ or call (352) 846-2000.

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“Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived” Opening Activities – June 16, 2007

Stump the Smithsonian Paleontologists! (10 a.m. – noon, 1 – 4 p.m.)
Bring your own fossils and try to “stump” Smithsonian Paleontologists Bob Purdy and Dave Bohaska while having your fossils identified.

Shark Tooth Dig and Identification (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
Search for, identify and take home your own shark teeth.

Gallery Walks (11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m.)
Join local shark experts for a tour of our newest exhibit, Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived.
11 a.m. – “Megalodon: Hunting the Hunter” author Mark Renz – Book signing follows
1 p.m. – Shark researcher Dr. Gordon Hubbell
3 p.m. – Shark researcher Dr. Clifford Jeremiah

Exhibitors (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
Meet researchers from the Florida Museum’s Ichthyology, Vertebrate Paleontology and Invertebrate Paleontology departments and area fossil club representatives to learn more about Florida’s fabulous fossil history.

Book Signing (noon – 4 p.m.)
Meet Mark Renz, author of “Megalodon: Hunting the Hunter,” “Fossiling In Florida,” “Megalodon: Hunting the Hunter,” “Megalodon Mystery,” “Giants in the Storm,” and “Doug’s Ark: Thinking Outside The Pile” and take home a signed copy of your own.

Discovery Cart (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
Was Megalodon larger than a school bus? How big were its teeth? Stop by our interactive discovery station to test your knowledge of this prehistoric predator of the sea.

Writer: Christine Eschenfelder
Media contact: Paul Ramey, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu
Source: Max Nickerson: maxn@flmnh.ufl.edu

Fla. Museum opens new shark exhibit June 16 featuring 60-foot-long Megalodon Bring your fossils and "Stump the Smithsonian Paleontologists"

Gerber,Logan R — Thu, 31 May 2007 15:46:06 +0000

Photos available

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — At 60 feet long, Megalodon was the largest shark that ever lived and a dominant marine predator. Sharks are at risk today, with recent population declines attributed to humans. Though Megalodon vanished 2 million years ago, its fascinating story inspires lessons for science and shark conservation.

The Florida Museum of Natural History tells this remarkable story in its exciting new national traveling exhibition, “Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived,” which opens June 16. The exhibition features a 60-foot-long walk-through sculpture and highlights the evolution, biology and misconceptions regarding giant prehistoric sharks.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 16, opening activities (*see full schedule below) include an opportunity for visitors to bring in their own fossils to try and “Stump the Smithsonian Paleontologists” while having the fossils identified. Other family fun and discovery includes activities and interaction with area fossil club representatives and Florida Museum researchers as well as gallery walks with other local shark experts, including Mark Renz, author of “Megalodon: Hunting the Hunted.” Renz will give a gallery walk at 11 a.m. followed by a book signing session from 12-4 p.m.

“Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived” also provides details on improving the health of our oceans and survival of threatened species. Recent worldwide declines are attributed to commercial and sport overfishing. Scientists estimate humans kill 100 million sharks, skates and rays each year, and the life history of most shark species makes it difficult for populations to rebound. For those wondering why we need sharks, the Megalodon exhibition asks guests to consider the marine food web domino-effect caused by overfishing. The exhibition also highlights shark medical research that may provide insight into our own well-being.

Another exhibition section describes how this animal continues to fascinate many, elevating Megalodon to near cult status. From biker jackets to postage stamps, the exhibition explains the many ways Megalodon remains a part of human culture through art, literature, music and film.

“Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived” was produced by the Florida Museum of Natural History with support from the National Science Foundation. The Florida Museum will display the exhibition through Jan. 6, 2008. Admission to this exhibition is free, though museum donations are gladly accepted.

For more information, visit http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/megalodon/ or call (352) 846-2000.

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“Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived” Opening Activities – June 16, 2007

Shark Tooth Dig and Identification (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
Search for, identify and take home your own sharks teeth.

Writer: Christine Eschenfelder
Media contact: Paul Ramey, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu