A real life Meg? The internet thinks this video shows a legendary sea monster

Internet – A video of a giant shark is currently causing a stir on TikTok. Some viewers even believe they are seeing the extinct prehistoric Megalodon!

At the bottom of the picture, viewers can see how small a group of people looks compared to the giant shark (collage).
At the bottom of the picture, viewers can see how small a group of people looks compared to the giant shark (collage).  © tiktok.com/@.alex.albrecht

Alex Albrecht's short video shows tourists flocking to the railings of a ship to marvel at something extraordinary in the water.

Mere feet away from them, swimming alongside their ship in the Atlantic Ocean, is a shark that looks to be at least twenty feet long!

The astonished spectators are enraptured as the graceful creature glides past, seemingly curious about the big vessel.

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Albrecht is standing on the ship's mast the whole time, at the perfect angle to capture the exclamations and reactions of the shark-watchers as well as the predator itself, swimming through calm waters.

Alex shared in the caption that the group had been sailing on the Atlantic for over six weeks when they were graced with the once-in-a-lifetime sight.

In three days, his astonishing animal video already has more than five million likes.

But the big question everyone who watches the clip is asking themselves is: what kind of monster is this?

TikTok video does not show a megalodon, but "only" a basking shark

This is how big a megalodon's jaw was, but never fear: this species of mega-shark has been extinct for millions of years (stock image).
This is how big a megalodon's jaw was, but never fear: this species of mega-shark has been extinct for millions of years (stock image).  © 123RF/Derrick Neill

Some TikTok users immediately commented under the clip: "Is that a Megalodon?" This refers to a legendary, prehistoric shark species that swam through the oceans millions of years ago and could grow up to 65 feet long.

The now-extinct shark is best known from monster movies like 2018's Meg, in which Hollywood star Jason Statham tangles with the massive behemoth.

However, as numerous other TikTok users clarify under Albrecht's video, the animal in his clip is no such Megalodon (they are considered extinct, after all).

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Instead, it's a so-called basking shark, a species that can grow up to 39 feet long, but is harmless to humans because it feeds mainly on plankton. One user dubbed the creature "A Carole Baskin shark," receiving thousands of likes.

The clip's top comment comes from none other than National Geographic: "He's just vibing like 🦈"

Although shark fans are a little disappointed that this is probably not a prehistoric monster, another commenter pointed out that with just 5% of the ocean explored so far, the possibility of a Megalodon lurking somewhere below can't be ruled out.

Cover photo: tiktok.com/@.alex.albrecht

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