Overview
- The vertebrae were excavated from the Gram Formation in Denmark in the late 1970s, were damaged and thought lost during a 1989 museum move, and were later found among forgotten museum boxes in the late 2010s.
- Researchers remeasured the best‑preserved piece and confirmed a maximum vertebral diameter of 23 cm, a key empirical input that underpins the previously published ~24.3 metre (≈79–80 ft) maximum length estimate.
- High‑resolution micro‑CT scans revealed at least 64 growth bands, giving a minimum age of 64 years for the individual and model‑based longevity estimates up to about 96 years, with results sensitive to the chosen growth parameters.
- Sediment from the specimen contained tiny scales and gill‑related fragments identified as from a basking shark, which the team interprets as possible stomach contents and the first such prey evidence associated with megalodon remains.
- Authors say the find highlights the scientific value of museum collections and reproducibility while noting that lack of a complete skeleton and modeling assumptions still limit absolute conclusions about size and life history.