Huge bite marks on a great white shark fuel the myth of a primeval basking shark. Could the megalodon not be extinct after all?
Mexico – The prehistoric megalodon has been considered extinct for more than three million years. However, there are still legends and myths about the basking shark, which could grow up to 20 meters long during its lifetime. People report encounters and a large number of photos and videos are circulating on the Internet, which are said to show the primeval giant. Diver Jalil Najafov recently published one of these photos. However, the recording does not show the basking shark itself, but a huge bite wound that it could have caused.
But from the front: According to the British tabloid “Daily Star”, the diver took a photo of an injured great white shark off the Mexican island of Guadalupe (Gulf of California). Since the publication of this image, rumors have been spreading that the cause of the injury could possibly be a megalodon.
Prehistoric basking shark not extinct after all? Diver films great white shark with mega bite mark
“I was really surprised because I’ve never seen anything like it in my life,” the diver was quoted as saying by the Daily Star. Many social media users are now convinced that the bite marks could be from a megalodon. From a scientific point of view, however, this is almost impossible. After all, the shark has been extinct for a long time – but this is no reason for supporters of the theory to change their position. A user on the diver’s Instagram page wrote that it was a “Megalodon shark bite”. Another commented with just one word: “Meg!”. That stands for megalodon.
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However, other explanations for the huge bite wound are also being sought on social media. Accordingly, some users are betting that the wound could come from a fight between the great white shark and an orca (killer whale). Others believe the wound could also have been caused by human hands, such as plastic.
Prehistoric basking shark: scientist finds possible explanation for bite photo
But not only users on the net have commented on the photo of the diver. Scientists also have their say – such as Dr. Tristan Cuttridge, scientific director of the research facility “Saving the blue” in Miami. He says of the photo: “The shape suggests to me a bite from another shark.”
“I would probably rule out mating based on position, as the wound looks like it’s healed a bit and while mating scars can be uncomfortable, they’re more superficial,” the scientist said. Some primeval fans should be satisfied with this statement. After all, the existence of the basking shark is not completely ruled out. (ebb)
