TIM FLANNERY and EMMA FLANNERY Big Meg. Reviewed by Michael Jongen
From the ancient megalodon to Jaws, Big Meg feeds our fascination with huge and dangerous marine creatures.
I was fascinated by the prospect of Big Meg: The story of the largest and most mysterious predator that ever lived, but I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I thoroughly enjoyed Fathoms by Rebecca Giggs, as well as Leviathan by Philip Hoare, both exceptional histories of and reveries on whales. Could the story of Meg, this huge ancient relative of sharks, hold the same interest as these social and literary histories of the largest living mammals?
The term ‘megalodon’ refers to a prehistoric giant shark that lived millions of years ago. It was one of the largest predators to ever exist, estimated to have reached lengths of 60 feet (18 metres) or more. The megalodon had enormous teeth, some reaching over 7 inches (18 centimetres) in length. It dominated the oceans for a long time before becoming extinct around 2.6 million years ago. Much of what we know about megalodon comes from fossilised teeth and some skeletal remains, as the rest of its body wasn’t well preserved.
The name megalodon is derived from Greek: ‘megas’ meaning ‘big’ and ‘odon’ meaning ‘tooth’. So, megalodon essentially translates to ‘big tooth’, which is fitting since its most famous characteristic is its enormous teeth. The story of the discovery of a megalodon tooth by the 16-year-old Tim Flannery in western Victoria is the starting point of this fascinating history of the Otodus megalodon.
I was walking along the bank when I saw, in shallow water, a large, triangular shape nestled among the pebbles. I scampered down the slope and picked it up. As if in a dream, I realised that I was holding a large tooth. I knew instantly what it was. I had read about such things, and even seen examples in museums. But I never dreamed that I would be fortunate enough to find one. This tooth had once been in the mouth of a shark known as Otodus megalodon, the largest predator that ever lived, a mighty species that had been extinct for millions of years! The fossil was large enough to cover my palm. Its silken chestnut-brown enamel shone brilliant in the sunshine. So magical did it appear that I handled it gently, not daring to put it down in case it disappeared.
Flannery’s fascination with fossils and natural history has been passed on to his daughter Emma, and together they have written an account of the origin of the megalodon and the Miocene period in which it thrived, its eventual extinction, and the evolution of sharks. I found these well researched chapters interesting and readable for a lay person.
Megalodon was a carnivorous predator that primarily fed on marine mammals such as whales, seals, and other large animals. Its diet likely consisted of a variety of prey, taking advantage of its immense size and powerful jaws to hunt effectively. The Flannerys explore the possible causes of the megalodon’s extinction, but the science is not yet settled. Some suggest that changes in ocean temperatures and the availability of suitable habitats, shifts in prey populations and competition with other predators over millions of years could all have contributed to its demise.
The chapters that follow look at the history of the tooth fossils and their use as charms, tools, and jewels in the Anthropocene period. Megalodon teeth have been found in various locations, including inland seas that existed during its time. These teeth are important evidence of the distribution and behaviour of the megalodon shark.
The combination of their awe-inspiring size, age and cultural significance contributes to the enduring allure of megalodon teeth. The Flannerys look at discoveries of teeth that have captured public attention and show how these have contributed to our understanding of megalodon’s distribution, evolution, and ecological role.
In 1666, a major breakthrough occurred. Danish anatomist, geologist and later bishop, Nicholas Steno, who was personal physician to the Médicis and then living in Florence, was brought the head of an enormous female great white shark that fishermen had caught off the coast of Livorno, Italy. The creature had been dragged on shore, tied to a tree and savagely battered to death, so the carcass was not in great shape. Nevertheless, Duke Ferdinand II ordered that it be carried to Steno in Florence for examination. The duke might have been motivated by an interest in the opinion of the Medici’s personal physician regarding the efficacy of fossil shark teeth as detectors of poisoned food.
Steno noted that the teeth were like fossils found in the coastal hills and determined that the inland teeth were very old and had been weathered out of rocks. This finding led to the science of stratigraphy – the study and meaning of rock layers.
In accounting for the public’s enduring fascination with ‘big megs’, the Flannerys say:
The most haunting of our imagined monsters remain hidden as they stalk us, striking when we least suspect it, while we are relaxing, or at play. The megalodon roams the ocean unseen and unseeable, except in our imaginations. And it often surfaces in our consciousness when we are at rest or play by the seaside. The reason that the great shark holds such a chilling grip on us must be sought in the very long history of the interaction of sharks with people. Is there anything more spine-chilling than the thought of being eaten alive?
In recounting the history of the relationship between sharks and humans, the Flannerys discuss some of the worst instances of shark attacks, though as they point out, humans have killed many more sharks than sharks have killed humans. Australian attitudes towards sharks continue to change. Advocates say that governments cannot legislate away risk, and we need to recognise the risk we take when we enter the shark’s environment. Traditional cultures fear sharks as dangerous creatures but also revere and protect them. The population of sharks, it is estimated, has reduced by half in the last 50 years.
We are often drawn to stories of dangerous creatures, and the megalodon fits that description perfectly. Imagining encounters with such a massive predator invokes both fear and excitement. The megalodon and its modern relatives have made appearances in various forms of media, from books and documentaries to movies like Jaws and The Meg. These portrayals further embed the creature in popular culture and contribute to its continued fascination. The Flannerys have utilised this attraction to give us a compelling history of a creature that lived many millions of years ago. Big Meg both entertains and informs.
Tim Flannery and Emma Flannery Big Meg: The story of the largest and most mysterious predator that ever lived Text Publishing 2023 256pp $35.00
Michael Jongen is a librarian and you can find him as @larrydlibrarian on Instagram and Threads.
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