Prehistoric mega-shark had fin the size of human, study reveals

Researchers compared 16-metre ocean monster to modern-day relatives to estimate its full size for first time

Megalodon had a dorsal fin the size of an adult human (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A prehistoric giant shark that once ruled the seas had fins as large as a person and teeth bigger than a human hand, according a study that claims to reveal the ocean monster’s vast size for the first time.

The scale of the megalodon, a relative of the Great White shark that lived from around 23 million to three million years ago, had previously only been estimated.

Researchers at University of Bristol and Swansea University now say the fearsome predator grew to more than 16 metres long and had a bite force of 10 tonnes. That is more than twice as big as a Great White, which has a typical bite force of two tonnes.