Fossils of the prehistoric megalodon shark, rediscovered after being lost for four decades, have provided new insights into one of the largest predators to ever inhabit Earth’s oceans. The vertebrae, initially uncovered in the 1970s from clay deposits near Gram in southern Denmark, were misplaced during a museum relocation and only recently reexamined by researchers.

Palaeobiology professor Kenshu Shimada of Chicago, who has studied the specimens, identified the bones as belonging to a megalodon that lived between approximately 15 million and 3.6 million years ago. The vertebrae are believed to be around 10.8 million years old and represent some of the largest shark vertebrae ever documented.

Using micro-CT scanning technology, scientists analyzed growth rings within the vertebrae, akin to the rings found in trees, to estimate the shark’s age and size. These techniques suggest that the megalodon could reach lengths of up to 80 feet and weigh as much as 94 tons. The growth ring analysis also indicates that this individual may have lived as long as 96 years.

The findings have shed light on the life history of the megalodon, revealing dietary habits that likely included large prey such as basking sharks. By comparing these vertebrae with those from other specimens, researchers have refined estimates of the species’ size and longevity, underscoring the scale of the apex predator’s presence in prehistoric marine ecosystems.

This rediscovery not only highlights the importance of careful fossil preservation but also contributes valuable data to the understanding of megalodon biology and its role in ancient ocean environments.