NEW evidence suggests megalodon sharks looked very different from the giant great white sharks depicted in science fiction films.

Recent research suggests that the shark, which lived about 15 to 3.6 million years ago, was actually longer and leaner than other studies claim.

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Most of what we know about megalodon sharks comes from giant fossilized teeth.

No fully fossilized specimen of the ancient beast has ever been found.

That's probably because shark skeletons are mainly made of cartilage that decays quickly.

For this reason, scientists must estimate what the shark would have looked like.

Previous studies estimated that megalodons could grow up to 20 meters in length.

Modern great white sharks have largely been used as models to estimate the megalodon's body shape.

a new study published in the journal Palaeontologia Electronica now challenges this idea.

Kenshu Shimada is a professor of paleobiology at DePaul University and co-leader of the study.

Shimada said: “The remarkably simple evidence that O. megalodon had a more slender body than the great white shark was hidden in plain sight.”

The researchers reanalyzed fossils and previously published studies to draw their conclusions.

They focused mainly on two studies describing the same incomplete set of fossilized megalodon shark vertebrae.

One study said that the vertebral length of this particular ancient shark was 11 meters.

The other claimed it was only 30 feet long.

“It was a 'eureka moment' when our research team realized the discrepancy between the two previously published lengths for the same Megalodon specimen,” Shimada explained.

“The new study strongly suggests that the body shape of O. megalodon was not just a larger version of the modern great white shark,” said co-leader Phillip Sternes.

“While it remains uncertain exactly how long the body of O. megalodon was elongated relative to the great white shark, this new finding marks a major scientific breakthrough in the quest to decipher what Megalodon looked like.”

Shimada described the hunt for the truth about megalodon sharks as an “ongoing mystery” that is both “fascinating and exciting.”

Megalodon is an extinct species of shark that lived about 23 to 3.6 million years ago and is undeniably the subject of nightmares. Megalodon could potentially grow up to 18.3 meters in length, with a whopping 3.4 meter wide jaw and teeth that could grow to 18 centimeters. If anything, he was a true sea monster and apex predator.

However, despite its well-deserved fearsome reputation, Megalodon wasn’t necessarily the largest, most fearsome, capable, or fearsome monster you could have encountered in the ancient seas.

Related: Top 10 Small Creatures That Can Kill You

10 Liopleurodon

Liopleurodon was a large carnivorous marine reptile belonging to the pliosaur family that lived about 160 million years ago between the Middle and Late Jurassic. By reputation alone, they are an obvious choice when it comes to any discussion of ancient sea monsters.

Unfortunately, Liopleurodon’s size is often exaggerated by television documentaries and the Internet, with some even going so far as to claim they were over 80 feet (24 meters) long. However, more realistic estimates put these animals at around 5 to 9 meters in length.

But make no mistake: Liopleurodons were still fearsome apex predators that ruled the now European waters where they lived. These animals not only had enormous mouths full of razor-sharp teeth, but they also had incredible bite force and enormous speed. Additionally, they likely had an incredible sense of smell, meaning no prey was safe from being ambushed by this monster of the ocean.^[1]

9 Xipactinus

Often described as resembling giant harpoons and currently the largest known bony fish from the Cretaceous period, Xiphactinus – the X-fish – was a voracious predator that existed 41 to 33 million years ago. These bony fish grow to a length of about 15 to 20 feet and don’t quite scale to the size of some of the other animals on this list. However, they were still quite massive, and no sane person would want to be anywhere near a living specimen. After all, even the fossils they left behind are unnerving to look at, especially when you see the fang-like teeth.

What you also need to know about Xiphactinus is that it was incredibly fast: it could reach speeds of over 60 km/h. Furthermore, their torpedo-like shape suggests they could possibly jump out of the water.^[2]

8 Tylosaurus

Tylosaurus was a huge reptile that lived during the Cretaceous period about 90 million years ago and dominated the shallow inland seas once found in what would now be North America. Fossil evidence suggests that these animals were typically 30 to 40 feet tall. However, some experts estimate that they may have grown even larger if sufficient food was available.

When it comes to Tylosaurus’ diet, almost everything was on the menu. These animals ate fish, sharks, other marine reptiles and even some flightless birds. Tylosaurus also had a unique way of catching its prey. Rather than relying on bite force like other marine predators, evidence suggests that Tylosaurus used its massive and powerful skull to ram its victims before tearing them apart.^[3]

7 Basilosaurus

The name Basilosaurus probably brings to mind reptiles and dinosaurs. But although the name translates to “king lizard,” Basilosaurus was a prehistoric species of whale that existed about 40 million years ago. Nevertheless, you can forgive experts for originally thinking differently. That’s because Basilosaurus is like no whale you’ve ever seen.

Shaped like a giant slithering eel with a long snout full of sharp teeth, Basilosaurus is pure nightmare fuel, even before you consider its enormous size. These slender creatures grew to about 65 feet (20 meters) long and weighed anywhere from 5 to 10 tons (4.5 to 9 metric tons). And Basilosaurs were not only cumbersome scavengers, but also very capable and active hunters.^[4]

6 Dunkleosteus

The Dunleosteus is an extinct form of arthrodire fish that lived about 360 million years ago during the Late Devonian period. With a bony, armored skull attached to a cartilage skeleton, Dunkleosteus is often compared to an underwater tank, and for good reason. This animal was not only well armored, but also well armed, thanks to its blade-like jaw that could snap shut with a force of more than 8,000 pounds (3,628 kilograms of force). As a result, Dunkleosteus is a strong contender for the strongest bite force of any extinct or living fish.

In terms of size, there have been multiple estimates ranging from 16 to 33 feet (5 to 10 meters). However, most evidence points to it being a relatively short and stout animal. Nevertheless, a Dunkleosteus had few things to fear other than possibly other Dunkleosteuses, as fossil evidence shows it may have been a cannibal.^[5]

5 Helicoprion

If there was one saving grace to being eaten by a real monster like Megaladon, it would probably be quick. After all, such animals were so large that they would have made short work of humans. On the other hand, you have to imagine that an attack from the bizarre shark-like fish known as Helicorprion is more like a meat grinder.

Helicoprion means spiral jaw, and it’s hard not to understand how it got that name. That’s because Helicoprion’s most recognizable and alarming feature are its ‘tooth whorls’: spiral-shaped tooth clusters found in the lower jaw. Scientists believe that these teeth each had an individual function. Some teeth hooked prey, while others cut them apart or pushed them into Helicoprion’s oral cavity, allowing Helicoprions to consume all kinds of animals.^[6]

4 Mosasaurus

Mosasaurus is often mistaken as a type of dinosaur, but they were reptiles from the mosasaur family (the same family as Tylosaurus) and more closely related to snakes and lizards. In terms of size, these things were enormous, often growing to about 50 feet in length. But what really made Mosasaurus a fearsome predator was its long, double-hinged jaw and sharp pointed teeth that allowed it to grip and tear apart its prey.

This animal, which existed about 82 to 66 million years ago, generally preferred shallow waters. However, its shape suggests it would also have been an excellent open-water swimmer. Anyway, he could eat pretty much anything he wanted, and he wasn’t picky, making meals of sharks, birds, other mosasaurs, and fish.^[7]

3 Shastasaurus sikanniensis

Shastasauruses are an extinct genus of ichthyosaurs that lived during the Middle and Late Triassic, about 200 million years ago. Unfortunately, we don’t know much about these marine reptiles yet. But what we do know is that some of them have become especially huge Shatasaurus sikanniensiswhich may have been as long as 21.5 meters.

Despite its monstrous size, slender body, powerful tail and strong webbed feet, this animal could move effortlessly through the water. Furthermore, fossil evidence suggests that it was an ambush predator that used its incredible agility to pounce on its victims. As if Shastasaurus sikanniensis was not powerful enough, he could also dive into deep depths, where his scale-like skin protected him from the harsh elements of the ocean.^[8]

2 Pliosaurus funkei

Another animal we are only just beginning to learn about is that Pliosaurus funkei, also commonly known as Predator We also know that it was a type of pliosaur (hence the name), belonging to the same family as Liopleurodons and Kronosaurs, which probably lived about 147 million years ago.

What makes it real Pilosaurus funkei Unlike anything else in oceanic history is its enormous skull. S. funkeis The skull was not only larger than that of a T-Rex, but also had a bite force four times more powerful. This beast also had a short neck and four paddles, giving it an alien appearance.^[9]

1 Livyatan

Named after a Biblical monster and the whale Moby DickLivyatans are an extinct species of sperm whale that existed about 13 million years ago. In terms of size, Livyatans were about 15 meters long, about the same size as their modern cousins. But unlike sperm whales, Libyans were apex predators, hunting sharks, seals, other whales and large marine vertebrates. In some ways they were the orcas of their day, only much larger and more likely to hunt alone.

What really made Livyatans terrifying, besides their size, were their teeth. At over 0.3 meters long, these teeth are believed to be the largest of any known animal (excluding tusks). These teeth have been found worldwide, from Australia to Chile, South Africa and the United States, indicating that no body of water was safe from this sea monster.

Interestingly, Livyatans long shared the seas and many of the same prey as Megalodons, potentially bringing the two apex predators into conflict. As for who would win, it’s likely the two exchanged fatalities. But in a bite-for-bite contest, experts believe a Livyatan’s endurance, technique and bite force would have given him the upper hand.^[10]