165 million years ago, 45-ton fish swam the ancient seas. ScienceMagArchives
Scientists have long struggled to explain why bony fishes are so small: The heaviest—the ocean sunfish—is just 2.3 metric tons, but cartilaginous fishes like whale sharks can weigh up to 34 metric tons. Now, a new study of an ancient giant suggests this modern difference is merely an evolutionary accident.according to one argument.
Realizing modern biologists had left ancient fish out of their equation, scientists decided to calculate's metabolic requirements. They used data from living bony fish as a guide, and they found that it would have not only survived, but thrived: In theory, the giant fish could haveno faster than 30 kilometers per hourIt's still a mystery why there are no gigantic bony fish today, but metabolically speaking there's no reason why they shouldn't exist, the researchers conclude.
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