Diver almost swallowed by giant shark

[Doctor Jones]

Oh, God, I laughed.

I feel bad now.

 

[Grievous]

This only furthers my fears of giant sea creatures and sea creatures in general

yeah there still saying there is a slight chance Megalondon could still exist.

 

[The Lizard]

yeah there still saying there is a slight chance Megalondon could still exist.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

I remember when this photo was buzzing around the internet.

Spoiler

 

[[A]]

I can't click on that

 

[NewYorkSpider]

Why not?

 

[E-Man]

I remember when this photo was buzzing around the internet.

Spoiler

Hahaha you beat me to it.

 

[Carcharodon]

yeah there still saying there is a slight chance Megalondon could still exist.

It's a VERY slight chance. We would expect to see WHITE megalodon teeth dredged up (as opposed to the thousands and possibly millions of fossilized teeth already found) from the ocean bottom if this were the case. So far there isn't much support, if any, for the current existence of megalodon.

And for the record (for all those who have claimed otherwise), whale sharks DO have teeth. They're just exceedingly small.

 

[SuperFerret]

It's a VERY slight chance. We would expect to see WHITE megalodon teeth dredged up (as opposed to the thousands and possibly millions of fossilized teeth already found) from the ocean bottom if this were the case. So far there isn't much support, if any, for the current existence of megalodon.

And for the record (for all those who have claimed otherwise), whale sharks DO have teeth. They're just exceedingly small.

But surely there are large parts of the ocean floor that we're unable to get to.

 

[Carcharodon]

But surely there are large parts of the ocean floor that we're unable to get to.

Absolutely. All I'm saying is that there is no evidence to support the current existence of megalodon. That doesn't mean megalodon isn't out there.

 

[Aesop Rocks]

That has got to be one of the chilliest fish ever.

It just doesn't give a damn.

 

[Kelly]

I've always been curious when I've seen whale sharks on tv, what would happen if someone was swallowed?

Could you pull yourself out?

1. That Shark is not feeding, if it was its mouth would be open much wider....
2. No it could not swallow you, can only handle fluids, and small plankton.

Lame. That shark has no teeth. The person just would have been gummed to death.

Actually it does have teeth, around 300 rows on each jaw....

 

[Carcharodon]

1. That Shark is not feeding, if it was its mouth would be open much wider....

The gape of a whale shark isn't large at all (they're not capable of the gape of, say, a basking shark). That does indeed look like a feeding whale shark.

 

[Kelly]

No, this is a whale shark feeding...



which is different than....this..

Unlike most plankton feeding vertebrates, the whale shark does not depend on slow forward motion to operate its filtration mechanism. Rather, it relies on a versatile suction filter-feeding method, which enables it to draw water into the mouth at higher velocities than these dynamic filter-feeders, like the basking shark. The whale shark feeds actively by opening its mouth, distending the jaws and sucking. Than it closes its mouth and the water flow out its gills

 

[Carcharodon]

No, this is a whale shark feeding...

*SNIP*

which is different than....this..

*SNIP*

So a whale shark only assumes one jaw posture during feeding? This is what a whale shark looks like when it's not feeding:

This, coupled with the fact that in the original picture we actually see an abundance of phytoplankton (and likely zooplankton), supports the conclusion that it is a feeding whale shark.

 

[Kelly]

I disagree....but ok....

 

[Carcharodon]

I disagree....but ok....

Let me put this in other terms: why would a whale shark assume a position other than the at-rest jaw position if it weren't feeding? The picture could easily have been taken at some intermediate point of the opening of the jaws, could it not (I say during opening of the jaws because we would expect to see the gills begin to flare out as water is expelled during the closing of the jaws, but on the other hand we don't get a good view of the gills to begin with, so meh)?

I mean it's cool that you disagree. This whole debate really doesn't matter at all, I'm just pursuing it because I have a sick obsession with nit-picking.

 

[Kelly]

That's cool....

 

[Carcharodon]

That's cool....

YOU'RE cool.

 

[Kelly]

No you are more cool....

 

[Carcharodon]

All pointless debates should end this way.

 

[Kelly]

all pointless debates should end this way.

qft

 

[ultrasuperduckman]

Oh man! That's an amazing picture.

She probably went straight home and made it her default on myspace!