Megalodon Shark vs. the Leviathan Whale: Who Would Win?




Whales and sharks are competitors and enemies in the present, and that is nothing new. Millions of years ago, the hunting whale called Livyatan (L. melvillei) had to compete with the massive shark called megalodon (O. megalodon) for resources. These two lived together over 9 million years ago, but the megalodon was the last one standing, living as few as 3.6 million years ago.



Comparing a Livyatan and a Megalodon:
The major differences between Livyatan and megalodon lie in their morphology and sensory abilities.




Livyatan was essentially a very large sperm whale with large teeth on the upper and lower half of their jaws that used echolocation to find prey, and megalodon was similar to a great white shark or mako shark with a torpedo-shaped body and very keen senses of smell and the ability to detect electrical fields from prey. 

Furthermore, the Livyatan propelled itself through water by waving its tail up and down while the megalodon moved its tail side to side. These are the most obvious differences between the creatures, but several others exist. We are going to examine the major differences between these animals in light of their ability to do battle.

Livyatan vs Megalodon: Size




The Livyatan was larger than the megalodon. According to estimates based on the size of a recovered skull, this animal weighed up to 62 tons and grew 57 feet in length. The megalodon could reach weights of 50 tons (and possibly beyond) and would grow up to 67 feet long.



Livyatan vs Megalodon: Speed and Movement

A Livyatan was probably faster than the megalodon. Again, we are dealing with estimates based on existing animals in many cases. It’s believed that the Livyatan could move at similar speeds to sperm whales, between 5 and 20 mph. Megalodons could move at about 11 mph, perhaps faster when closing on prey.

Livyatan has the advantage in terms of speed.



Livyatan vs Megalodon: Senses

Megalodon had amazing senses that they could use to hunt their prey. They had an incredibly sensitive sense of smell along with great vision and hearing. Moreover, they can detect electrical fields coming from prey via the ampullae of Lorenzini.

Livyatan’s senses were not as good. They used echolocation to find prey and communicate with others, and they had good hearing. However, their senses of taste and smell were thought to be poor.



Livyatan vs Megalodon: Combat Skills

Megalodon was even deadlier than the most powerful sharks alive today. It had an enormous size to go with its incredible hunting senses. This shark would try to sneak up on its foes and bite them in their chest cavities, killing them by crushing organs and exsanguination.

The Livyatan wasn’t that much different in how it attacked. This large, surprisingly speedy creature probably hunted through pursuit predation, wearing down other whales or dolphins during a chase and then drowning them. For smaller sharks, it would probably just bite them using its massive teeth that measured over a foot in length.  




Who Would Win in a Fight Between a Livyatan and a Megalodon?





A Livyatan would win a fight against a megalodon. The Livyatan has the size and speed advantage, bigger teeth, and it has endurance to last through a long fight. Another problem for the megalodon stems from the way that megalodons attack. They prefer to dig into the stomachs of their prey. In this case, they’re going to get blood and blubber on their first few bites, and that’s not going to help it kill a massive whale.
Even if it managed to sneak up on the Livyatan and land the first attack, it would not benefit them much. The fight would turn into a bite-for-bite trade, and the Livyatan can take more damage than a megalodon.



Conclusion : A livyatan can win a fight against a Megalodon.