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https://theconversation.com/meg-2-the-truth-about-the-extinct-mega-shark-and-why-even-this-ridiculous-film-could-inspire-future-palaeontologists-210751>
"
Otodus megalodon, the biggest shark of all time, has long captured the
imaginations of palaeontologists and the public alike. Scientific fascination
spawns from the sheer enormity of their fossilised teeth. As big as human hands
and serrated like kitchen knives, they were used for cutting down whales
unlucky enough to encounter these sharks.
This gigantic predator has been further propelled into the limelight through
popular culture. Nowhere has the megalodon made a bigger splash than its
starring role in 2018’s
The Meg, which will be followed by a sequel this
year,
Meg 2: The Trench.
Adapted from the bestselling novel
Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror by Steve
Alten,
The Meg tells the story of a group of scientists discovering megalodon
living in the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean.
The film is undeniably riddled with scientific inaccuracies. However, I can’t
help but appreciate
The Meg. A ridiculous film? Yes. But everyone involved
seems very aware of this, making for highly entertaining viewing.
In my professional opinion, if a future palaeontologist becomes inspired and
makes new megalodon discoveries because they saw this unserious film, then its
existence has surely been a good thing.
I feel this way because it is ultimately my own story.
The very reason I discovered megalodon was because I watched a media depiction
of it – specifically the BBC documentary series
Sea Monsters (2003) in which
zoologist Nigel Marven visits prehistoric seas in his time-travelling boat to
dive with ancient beasts.
I was just six at the time. I am now, 20 years later, a practising
palaeobiologist specialising in fossil sharks and my most well-known work
revolves around none other than megalodon."
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
