The famous 1970s novel and film Jaws explored our collective and ancient fear and fascination of giant sharks. Big Meg – Otodus megalodon – is an extinct giant shark from 55 million years ago. Authors Tim Flannery and Emma Flannery present an engaging, easy-to-read, holistic, and intelligent story of Big Meg suitable for almost all readers.
With soft cartilage unlikely to survive as fossils, it’s all about the jaws and teeth. Early on, Tim recounts his personal experience as a youngster discovering a megalodon tooth while fossil hunting. (Tim handed the tooth over to his supervisor, then went on to become a palaeontologist; he and the mysterious tooth were reacquainted more than 40 years later.) After this enchanting human introduction, Big Meg is framed by science and palaeontology – megalodon origins, evolution, evidence, measurements, behaviour and extinction.
The tide soon turns, and the megalodon is reframed by various cultural perspectives. Insights from arts, history, anthropology, traditional and popular culture, archaeology, mythology and religion offer enjoyable, holistic understandings.
My favourites: a fossil megalodon tooth can be comfortably held in a human hand, a perfect, ready-made tool that our ancestors could pick up and use; the megalodon tooth is the official fossil of North Carolina; an ancient poem written from the perspective of a shark’s tooth; analysis of the films Jaws and The Meg; and using giant shark’s teeth for jewellery, trade, and as an underarm deodorant. Big Meg features a helpful reference list, index, colour photos/illustrations and author bibliography.
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, many millions of years after its extinction, the megalodon still kills a couple of people each year, mostly divers and fossil hunters caught in deep waters. The megalodon continues to fascinate in an era of renewed respect for the environment and our relationship with it.
Reviewed by Mark Parry
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Tim Flannery is a scientist, an explorer, a conservationist and a leading writer on climate change. He has held various academic positions including visiting Professor in Evolutionary and Organismic Biology at Harvard University, Director of the South Australian Museum, Principal Research Scientist at the Australian Museum, Professorial Fellow at the Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, University of Melbourne, and Panasonic Professor of Environmental Sustainability, Macquarie University. His books include the award-winning international bestseller The Weather Makers, Here on Earth and Atmosphere of Hope. Flannery was the 2007 Australian of the Year. He is currently chief councillor of the Climate Council.
Emma Flannery is a scientist and writer. She has explored caves, forests and oceans across most of the globe’s continents in search of elusive fossils, animals and plants. Her research and writing on geology, chemistry and palaeontology has been published in scientific journals, children’s books and a number of museum-based adult education tours.
Read a review about The Climate Cure by Tim Flannery
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