Sea Monsters Read Free

of
Elasmosaurus
were first discovered over one hundred years ago, a famous scientist namedEdward Drinker Cope put them together. But he made a big mistake. He put the head on the tail end instead of on the neck!
    When his mistake was discovered, Cope spent the rest of his life feeling bad about it—even though he was one of the best prehistoric marine-reptile experts of his day.
Xiphactinus (zuh-FACK-tuh-nus)
    Xiphactinus
is nicknamed the “bulldog fish.” Its lower jaws jut out, showing rows of terrible sharp teeth. But another name for these big fish could be “speedy.”

    Xiphactinus
swam really fast. Their powerful tails helped them reach speeds up to thirty-five miles per hour!
    Xiphactinus
sometimes grew up to twenty feet long. Scientists have found theirfossils with much bigger animals inside their stomachs. Thanks to those fierce jaws and teeth, these bulldog fish weren’t afraid of anything!
Megalodon (MEG-uh-loh-don)
    Sometimes people find giantsharks’ teeth along the Maryland, North Carolina, and California coasts. They’re as big as dinner plates! The teeth belonged to a huge shark called
Megalodon,
which means “giant tooth.” These massive sharks lived after theMesozoic Era had ended.
    There are almost nofossils of
Mega-lodon
skulls and skeletons. That’s because shark skeletons are made of
cartilage
(KAR-tuh-lidge), not bone. Cartilage rots after the animal dies. But teeth turn into long-lasting fossils.

    We know by their teeth that
Megalodon
were three times bigger than great white sharks. It’s possible they reached over fifty feet long! Their jaws could open over seven feet high and six feet wide.
    An animal this size could wolf down a whole cow in one gulp! It could eat a class of third graders in three gulps! But we know that
Megalodon
atewhales instead.Fossils of whale skeletons have been found with cut marks on their ribs and fins. The cuts match
Megalodon
teeth. And right next to the whale fossils were
Megalodon
teeth!

There’s a lot more you can learn about sea monsters. The fun of research is seeing how many different sources you can explore.

    Most libraries and bookstores have lots of books about creatures of the deep.
    Here are some things to remember when you’re using books for research:
    1. You don’t have to read the whole book.
    Check the table of contents and the index to find the topics you’re interested in.
    2. Write down the name of the book.
    When you take notes, make sure you write down the name of the book in your notebook so you can find it again.
    3. Never copy exactly from a book.
    When you learn something new from a book, put it in your own words.
    4. Make sure the book is nonfiction .
    Some books tell make-believe stories about sea creatures. Make-believe stories are called
fiction.
They’re fun to read, but not good for research.
    Research books have facts and tell true stories. They are called
nonfiction.
A librarian or teacher can help you make sure the books you use for research are non-fiction.
    Here are some good nonfiction books about sea creatures:
    •
Deep Sea Adventures
by Kirsten Hall
    •
Dive! A Book of Deep-Sea Creatures
by Melvin Berger
    •
Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Sharks and Other Sea Monsters
by Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart
    •
Giant Squid: Mystery of the Deep
by Jennifer Dussling
    •
Octopuses and Squids
by Mary Jo Rhodes and David Hall
    •
Outside and Inside Giant Squid
by Sandra Markle
    •
Real-Life Sea Monsters
by Judith Jango-Cohen

    Many museums and aquariums have exhibits on sea monsters. These places can help you learn more about the deep sea and the animals that live there.
    When you go to a museum or aquarium:
    1. Be sure to take your notebook!
    Write down anything that catches your interest. Draw pictures, too!
    2. Ask questions.
    There are almost always people at museums and aquariums who can help you find what you’re looking for.
    3. Check the museum or aquarium calendar.
    Many museums and aquariums have special