A giant shark swims next to the captured boat

A huge shark seen on video stalking a long ship off the Massachusetts coast is causing a stir on social media.

A prehistoric shark was photographed slowly swimming alongside a boat full of research students as they all screamed and looked on in amazement.

Alex Albrecht, a marine biodiversity student and musician, captured the scene from the mast of the SSV Corwith Cramer just over 100 miles off the coast of Walls Hole, Massachusetts.

The video was now viral It has been viewed more than 37 million times. [note: the video has explicit language] Since Albrecht posted it on Tuesday on TikTok.

“Is it a megalodon?” Asked one person jokingly in comments with so many others.

Megalodon is an extinct species believed to be the largest shark and fish to ever exist. Some scientists estimate that an adult megalodon can be over 30 feet long. Others argue that this species can reach over 80 feet.

So, was the megalodon actually seen off the coast of New England in 2021?

Sharks are not street killers, they are sociable and intelligent creatures that play a vital role in the ocean ecosystem. But globally, tens of millions of sharks die each year. LX News anchor Tabitha Lipkin went swimming with some sharks to learn more about why their fate was so interested and what we can do to help save them.

No, the shark seen in the viral TikTok video has been identified as a harmless but still huge shark.

Basking sharks are the second largest of their kind and can reach up to 26 feet in length.

“I am so grateful to be able to share such a wonderful creature with so many people,” said Albrecht. “I hope it makes people want to protect and conserve the biodiversity of our oceans.”

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