科学家在丹麦博物馆书架上重新发现了失踪数十年的巨齿鲨脊椎骨化石[1]。这块化石被认为在1989年从哥本哈根地质博物馆迁往南日德兰博物馆时遗失[1]，距今约1100万年[1]。脊椎骨直径达23厘米，是迄今发现最大的巨齿鲨脊椎骨[1]。
通过对这块标本的分析，研究人员推断巨齿鲨体长可能超过24米（79英尺）[1]。研究还表明巨齿鲨寿命接近一个世纪，新生幼鲨长度可达3.6米（12英尺）[1]。这种远古掠食者生活于1500万年至350万年前[1]，此次发现为了解这一已灭绝物种的生物学特征提供了新的科学证据。
Researchers have recovered a long-missing vertebra from an ancient megalodon shark at a Danish museum, uncovering new insights into one of Earth's most formidable predators.[1] The fossil, believed lost during a 1989 transfer from the Copenhagen Geological Museum to the South Jutland Museum, represents the largest known megalodon vertebra ever discovered, measuring 23 centimeters (9 inches) in diameter.[1]
Analysis of the approximately 11-million-year-old specimen suggests that the megalodon may have exceeded 24 meters (79 feet) in length—dwarfing the 10.5-meter great white shark featured in Jaws.[1] The research further indicates that these apex predators had lifespans approaching one century and gave birth to offspring measuring up to 3.6 meters (12 feet) in length.[1] Megalodon species inhabited Earth's oceans between approximately 15 million and 3.5 million years ago.[1]