Sizing ocean giants: patterns of intraspecific size variation in marine megafauna.

Craig R McClain, Meghan A Balk, Mark C Benfield, Trevor A Branch, Catherine Chen, James Cosgrove, Alistair D M Dove, Leo Gaskins, Rebecca R Helm, Frederick G Hochberg, Frank B Lee, Andrea Marshall, Steven E McMurray, Caroline Schanche, Shane N Stone

February 2015

Synopsis of Social media discussions

Users show strong interest and moderate engagement, citing specific findings like the size of giant sea creatures and referencing the paper and its methodologies, with words like 'interesting,' 'read this,' and 'must consider,' suggesting they value and are impacted by the knowledge shared in the article.

A
Agreement
 Moderate agreement

Most discussions support the significance of the study, highlighting interesting aspects and agreeing on its importance for understanding marine megafauna sizes.

I
Interest
 High level of interest

Posts express high curiosity and enthusiasm, referencing specific data points and fascinating examples like giant crabs and jellyfish.

E
Engagement
 Moderate level of engagement

Participants delve into details about measurements, methods, and implications, indicating a moderate level of thoughtful engagement.

I
Impact
 Moderate level of impact

While the discussions show interest, they mostly emphasize curiosity and academic value rather than immediate practical impact.

Social Mentions

YouTube

2 Videos

Bluesky

3 Posts

Facebook

297 Posts

Twitter

59 Posts

Blogs

26 Articles

News

63 Articles

Metrics

Video Views

2,400

Total Likes

153

Extended Reach

621,881

Social Features

450

Timeline: Posts about article

Top Social Media Posts

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  • マンブルV2/フォアグラ
    @V2manburu (Twitter)

    RT @V2manburu: 大型海洋動物相における同一種内のサイズ変化のパターンに関する論文 https://t.co/b7I9tjrGGU 最大級の海洋無脊椎動物から海洋脊椎動物の種内の体格差に関する情報盛り沢山。 興味がある方は是非。
    view full post

    September 10, 2025

    10

  • Dactylioceras
    @Dinoh555 (Twitter)

    @CooperPalaeo Yep, they quoted a few around that size https://t.co/BO9Ako9A5a
    view full post

    March 9, 2025

    5

  • MARE-Madeira I Aquatic Research Institute
    @MARE_Madeira (Twitter)

    ¹ McClain, C. R., Balk, M. A., Benfield, M. C., Branch, T. A., Chen, C., Cosgrove, J., Dove, A. D., Gaskins, L., Helm, R. R., ..., & Thaler, A. D. (2015). Sizing ocean giants: patterns of intraspecific size variation in marine megafauna. PeerJ, 3, e715. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.715
    view full post

    December 6, 2024

  • Tom Maggi
    @TomMaggi37 (Twitter)

    RT @thePeerJ: Sizing ocean giants: patterns of intraspecific size variation in marine megafauna http://t.co/D0z7fm6XYF #ecology http://t.co…
    view full post

    February 27, 2024

    8

  • JB Quijano
    @jbquij (Twitter)

    RT @Perrywedel: Very interesting article about the megafauna in our oceans @prowildlife @pewenvironment Sizing ocean giants https://t.co/…
    view full post

    December 18, 2023

    2

  • PeerJ - the Journal of Life & Environment
    @PeerJLife (Twitter)

    RT @Perrywedel: Very interesting article about the megafauna in our oceans @prowildlife @pewenvironment Sizing ocean giants https://t.co/…
    view full post

    December 18, 2023

    2

  • Ralf Sonntag
    @Perrywedel (Twitter)

    Very interesting article about the megafauna in our oceans @prowildlife @pewenvironment Sizing ocean giants https://t.co/tjL7wT6WPr via @PeerJLife
    view full post

    December 17, 2023

    4

    2

  • Trevor Branch (moved to Bluesky)
    @TrevorABranch (Twitter)

    @MarkusBhler10 @NioCriste @wildlifeco1 Those measurements come from a paper by @DrCraigMc and many others incl. me https://t.co/GxlUOqWoIK In the paper there is a long writeup about different speciments collected and weighed.
    view full post

    October 9, 2023

    2

  • Darius Nau
    @darius_nau (Twitter)

    Focus here is on equations for C. carcharias. Stated figures on the graphs are for the average adult of O. megalodon at ~13.9 m. First up: McClain, et al. 2015. Sizing ocean giants: patterns of intraspecific size variation in marine megafauna. PeerJ 3: e715. https://t.co/7TVbZISpD5
    view full post

    July 19, 2023

    3

  • Astella Str.100 and Asquela Str.100,Gost and Sazan
    @1lyghts100 (Twitter)

    h, and reducing their size at maturity.
    view full post

    July 18, 2023

  • ECOLOGY ASSOCIATION
    @ecologyTENERIFE (Twitter)

    RT @thePeerJ: Sizing ocean giants: patterns of intraspecific size variation in marine megafauna http://t.co/D0z7fm6XYF #ecology http://t.co…
    view full post

    April 29, 2023

    8

  • Blue whale news
    @bluewhalenews (Twitter)

    @SamuelDunford @PyensonLab @realscientists @EmbraceTheCoda @CetologyH But honestly it would make for a good scientific paper to explore this question. Perhaps something for @CetologyH to lead and @PyensonLab @SamuelDunford and I to contribute to. We touched on this a bit in this paper https://t.co/mdNaaui85Y but could do much more.
    view full post

    January 9, 2022

    2

  • Karleen Gribble
    @DrKarleenG (Twitter)

    @FondOfBeetles @janeclarejones As does the "friendly neighbourhood biologist" @RebeccaRHelm https://t.co/r6uY21BCLE
    view full post

    November 29, 2021

  • 山口 兼一
    @cUt55giiq3PrApj (Twitter)

    RT @kharaguchi: Sizing ocean giants: patterns of intraspecific size variation in marine megafauna https://t.co/xGoj5BlwX9 https://t.co/HdcZ…
    view full post

    January 22, 2021

    2

  • Michael Merrifield
    @AstroMikeMerri (Twitter)

    I am never going swimming in the sea again. https://t.co/BxgDRhdAjy https://t.co/RsiDugDL8A
    view full post

    January 22, 2021

    7

  • リキ
    @9izQu36vv0mwlSD (Twitter)

    RT @kharaguchi: Sizing ocean giants: patterns of intraspecific size variation in marine megafauna https://t.co/HdcZAMIFD0
    view full post

    January 22, 2021

    2

  • 原口　一博
    @kharaguchi (Twitter)

    Sizing ocean giants: patterns of intraspecific size variation in marine megafauna https://t.co/HdcZAMIFD0 https://t.co/xGoj5BlwX9
    view full post

    January 22, 2021

    7

    2


  • @emuzatik (Twitter)

    Sizing ocean giants: patterns of intraspecific size variation in marine megafauna https://t.co/SbCAy56SP8 @thePeerJより でかい海洋生物ってロマンあって好き
    view full post

    January 21, 2021

    2

  • ScienceStop
    @B0tSci (Twitter)

    RT @iamscicomm: #SciArt is also a great way to summarize information, as with infographics like this one, designed for a McClain et al. pap…
    view full post

    January 11, 2021

    1

  • ねぇ、キスしてよ、あんたが好きなの、でもそぉーっと、音立てないで！
    @vernalize_ (Twitter)

    RT @V2manburu: 大型海洋動物相における同一種内のサイズ変化のパターンに関する論文 https://t.co/b7I9tjrGGU 最大級の海洋無脊椎動物から海洋脊椎動物の種内の体格差に関する情報盛り沢山。 興味がある方は是非。
    view full post

    January 2, 2021

    10

  • Chauliodus
    @ophiacodon (Twitter)

    RT @V2manburu: 大型海洋動物相における同一種内のサイズ変化のパターンに関する論文 https://t.co/b7I9tjrGGU 最大級の海洋無脊椎動物から海洋脊椎動物の種内の体格差に関する情報盛り沢山。 興味がある方は是非。
    view full post

    January 2, 2021

    10

  • ビクーピー
    @B47197246 (Twitter)

    RT @V2manburu: 大型海洋動物相における同一種内のサイズ変化のパターンに関する論文 https://t.co/b7I9tjrGGU 最大級の海洋無脊椎動物から海洋脊椎動物の種内の体格差に関する情報盛り沢山。 興味がある方は是非。
    view full post

    January 2, 2021

    10

  • マンブルV2/フォアグラ
    @V2manburu (Twitter)

    RT @V2manburu: 大型海洋動物相における同一種内のサイズ変化のパターンに関する論文 https://t.co/b7I9tjrGGU 最大級の海洋無脊椎動物から海洋脊椎動物の種内の体格差に関する情報盛り沢山。 興味がある方は是非。
    view full post

    January 2, 2021

    10

  • とよけらとぷす
    @rex_toyo (Twitter)

    RT @V2manburu: 大型海洋動物相における同一種内のサイズ変化のパターンに関する論文 https://t.co/b7I9tjrGGU 最大級の海洋無脊椎動物から海洋脊椎動物の種内の体格差に関する情報盛り沢山。 興味がある方は是非。
    view full post

    January 1, 2021

    10

  • @IAmSciComm - On a Break!
    @iamscicomm (Twitter)

    #SciArt is also a great way to summarize information, as with infographics like this one, designed for a McClain et al. paper (https://t.co/EajhVyIqrn): via @thePeerJ https://t.co/aS20Ioc5uH
    view full post

    October 14, 2020

    8

    1

  • Jacob A Tennessen
    @JacobPhD (Twitter)

    Reading Nat Geo Kids with F1, and hey, that’s from @thePeerJ paper by @DrAndrewThaler https://t.co/xNeeyAMA2C https://t.co/N0E6Kf2n33
    view full post

    October 12, 2020

    2

  • David Shiffman, Ph.D.
    @whysharksmatter.bsky.social (Bluesky)

    This shark is significantly larger than the biggest great white shark ever measured #MMMatTheMovies https://peerj.com/articles/715/
    view full post

    October 8, 2020

  • Richard_Carr
    @EmuLarge (Twitter)

    RT @echinoblog: @franzanth @BeforeDinosaurs The record for Bathynomus giganteus is 50 cm as per @DrCraigMc this one was 36, so not bad... h…
    view full post

    July 12, 2020

    1

  • @MiguelGuerreiro@ecoevo.social
    @MiguelFGuerreir (Twitter)

    https://t.co/13n0QTU9nK
    view full post

    July 12, 2020

  • Christopher Mah, @echinoblog.bsky.social
    @echinoblog (Twitter)

    @franzanth @BeforeDinosaurs The record for Bathynomus giganteus is 50 cm as per @DrCraigMc this one was 36, so not bad... https://t.co/81A1ZX9vOV
    view full post

    July 12, 2020

    4

    1

  • マンブルV2/フォアグラ
    @V2manburu (Twitter)

    RT @V2manburu: 大型海洋動物相における同一種内のサイズ変化のパターンに関する論文 https://t.co/b7I9tjrGGU 最大級の海洋無脊椎動物から海洋脊椎動物の種内の体格差に関する情報盛り沢山。 興味がある方は是非。
    view full post

    November 26, 2019

    10

  • Dr Maureen Berg
    @MaureenBug (Twitter)

    RT @GelatinousSting: @caveatnyc @ZakMartellucci @MaureenBug Longest animal in the world isn’t a blue whale, it’s actually a jellyfish #inve…
    view full post

    October 29, 2019

    1

  • Anna Klompen, PhD
    @GelatinousSting (Twitter)

    @caveatnyc @ZakMartellucci @MaureenBug Longest animal in the world isn’t a blue whale, it’s actually a jellyfish #inverts #TeamInvert Source: https://t.co/Wfq1Dqmebh https://t.co/FfKgBqlu2S
    view full post

    October 29, 2019

    10

    1

  • Lola
    @loladpr (Twitter)

    RT @bittelmethis: @DrCraigMc @DoctorZen @NickHobgood The world's heaviest medusozoa is the Nomura's jellyfish. It can weigh 440 pounds. And…
    view full post

    August 9, 2019

    3

  • Deconstructing Damsels
    @damselspodcast (Twitter)

    RT @bittelmethis: Hi, I'm a Japanese spider crab, and I may have been exaggerating a little bit. According to @DrCraigMc's research (http…
    view full post

    August 1, 2019

    9

  • Dammit Dana
    @peacenhippiness (Twitter)

    RT @bittelmethis: @DrCraigMc @DoctorZen @NickHobgood @AllHandsMag Okay, last one. The mola mola or ocean sunfish begins life as a larva n…
    view full post

    August 1, 2019

    5

  • Kevin Goheen
    @Mrkalman (Twitter)

    RT @bittelmethis: @DrCraigMc @DoctorZen And now I'm just reading this paper for fun. There are giant clams that weigh more than 700 pound…
    view full post

    July 31, 2019

    11

  • Kevin Goheen
    @Mrkalman (Twitter)

    RT @bittelmethis: @DrCraigMc @DoctorZen @NickHobgood @AllHandsMag Okay, last one. The mola mola or ocean sunfish begins life as a larva n…
    view full post

    July 31, 2019

    5

  • 冠龍 諸々を執筆中
    @Guanlong_wucaii (Twitter)

    RT @V2manburu: 大型海洋動物相における同一種内のサイズ変化のパターンに関する論文 https://t.co/b7I9tjrGGU 最大級の海洋無脊椎動物から海洋脊椎動物の種内の体格差に関する情報盛り沢山。 興味がある方は是非。
    view full post

    July 31, 2019

    10

  • とよけらとぷす
    @rex_toyo (Twitter)

    RT @V2manburu: 大型海洋動物相における同一種内のサイズ変化のパターンに関する論文 https://t.co/b7I9tjrGGU 最大級の海洋無脊椎動物から海洋脊椎動物の種内の体格差に関する情報盛り沢山。 興味がある方は是非。
    view full post

    July 31, 2019

    10

  • マンブルV2/フォアグラ
    @V2manburu (Twitter)

    RT @V2manburu: 大型海洋動物相における同一種内のサイズ変化のパターンに関する論文 https://t.co/b7I9tjrGGU 最大級の海洋無脊椎動物から海洋脊椎動物の種内の体格差に関する情報盛り沢山。 興味がある方は是非。
    view full post

    July 31, 2019

    10

  • Bardo Científico
    @BardoCientifico (Twitter)

    RT @bittelmethis: Hi, I'm a Japanese spider crab, and I may have been exaggerating a little bit. According to @DrCraigMc's research (http…
    view full post

    July 30, 2019

    9

  • Ian Holdaway
    @HoldawayIan (Twitter)

    RT @bittelmethis: @DrCraigMc @DoctorZen And now I'm just reading this paper for fun. There are giant clams that weigh more than 700 pound…
    view full post

    July 30, 2019

    11

  • Sarah Keartes
    @sarahkeartes (Twitter)

    RT @bittelmethis: @DrCraigMc @DoctorZen And now I'm just reading this paper for fun. There are giant clams that weigh more than 700 pound…
    view full post

    July 30, 2019

    11

  • Nell
    @pakasuchus (Twitter)

    RT @bittelmethis: Hi, I'm a Japanese spider crab, and I may have been exaggerating a little bit. According to @DrCraigMc's research (http…
    view full post

    July 30, 2019

    9

  • Ryan CaptSpiffy Karl
    @VintageSpiffy (Twitter)

    RT @bittelmethis: Hi, I'm a Japanese spider crab, and I may have been exaggerating a little bit. According to @DrCraigMc's research (http…
    view full post

    July 30, 2019

    9

  • Amy Wright
    @amygoes_green (Twitter)

    Hello, this is my new favourite paper. A spider crab 3.7 m across? A 5 ton seal? A 50 cm isopod? The largest metazoan? Yes please https://t.co/OhXyZGl3FC https://t.co/Y9koKU0Rw0
    view full post

    July 30, 2019

    3

  • Hannah Jinuji Daniel
    @ahannahstory (Twitter)

    RT @bittelmethis: @DrCraigMc @DoctorZen And now I'm just reading this paper for fun. There are giant clams that weigh more than 700 pound…
    view full post

    July 29, 2019

    11

  • CAVEAT
    @caveatnyc (Twitter)

    RT @bittelmethis: @DrCraigMc @DoctorZen And now I'm just reading this paper for fun. There are giant clams that weigh more than 700 pound…
    view full post

    July 29, 2019

    11

  • Lindsay Beyerstein
    @beyerstein (Twitter)

    RT @bittelmethis: @DrCraigMc @DoctorZen And now I'm just reading this paper for fun. There are giant clams that weigh more than 700 pound…
    view full post

    July 29, 2019

    11

  • Melissa Orobko (they/them)
    @Melissa_Orobko (Twitter)

    RT @bittelmethis: @DrCraigMc @DoctorZen And now I'm just reading this paper for fun. There are giant clams that weigh more than 700 pound…
    view full post

    July 29, 2019

    11


  • @Anglophoria (Twitter)

    RT @bittelmethis: @DrCraigMc @DoctorZen And now I'm just reading this paper for fun. There are giant clams that weigh more than 700 pound…
    view full post

    July 29, 2019

    11

  • Danny D ©
    @DannyD156 (Twitter)

    RT @bittelmethis: @DrCraigMc @DoctorZen @NickHobgood @AllHandsMag Okay, last one. The mola mola or ocean sunfish begins life as a larva n…
    view full post

    July 29, 2019

    5

  • quinn, with a paper cup for a hat
    @unquinnish (Twitter)

    RT @bittelmethis: Hi, I'm a Japanese spider crab, and I may have been exaggerating a little bit. According to @DrCraigMc's research (http…
    view full post

    July 29, 2019

    9

  • Barbara Brennan
    @trampledamage (Twitter)

    RT @bittelmethis: @DrCraigMc @DoctorZen @NickHobgood The world's heaviest medusozoa is the Nomura's jellyfish. It can weigh 440 pounds. And…
    view full post

    July 29, 2019

    3

  • NaCI Connoisseur
    @_dreameater (Twitter)

    RT @bittelmethis: Hi, I'm a Japanese spider crab, and I may have been exaggerating a little bit. According to @DrCraigMc's research (http…
    view full post

    July 29, 2019

    9

  • Juan Junoy
    @JuanJunoy (Twitter)

    RT @gkalinkat: @thePeerJ @USFWS 1⃣1⃣0⃣ @DrCraigMc et al (2015): Sizing ocean giants: patterns of intraspecific size variation in marine #me…
    view full post

    July 29, 2019

    2

  • Steve Portugal
    @sjportugal1979 (Twitter)

    RT @gkalinkat: @thePeerJ @USFWS 1⃣1⃣0⃣ @DrCraigMc et al (2015): Sizing ocean giants: patterns of intraspecific size variation in marine #me…
    view full post

    July 29, 2019

    2

  • Gregor Kalinkat @gkalinkat@det.social
    @gkalinkat (Twitter)

    @thePeerJ @USFWS 1⃣1⃣0⃣ @DrCraigMc et al (2015): Sizing ocean giants: patterns of intraspecific size variation in marine #megafauna @thePeerJ #openaccess #365papers #ecology #conservation #bodysize #allometry (H/T @DoctorZen) https://t.co/rRd4DzWXAT https://t.co/ZMq37QKP06
    view full post

    July 29, 2019

    2

    2

  • マンブルV2/フォアグラ
    @V2manburu (Twitter)

    大型海洋動物相における同一種内のサイズ変化のパターンに関する論文 https://t.co/b7I9tjrGGU 最大級の海洋無脊椎動物から海洋脊椎動物の種内の体格差に関する情報盛り沢山。 興味がある方は是非。
    view full post

    July 29, 2019

    9

    10

  • Corey Bradshaw
    @conservbytes.bsky.social (Bluesky)

    Sizing ocean giants: patterns of intraspecific size variation in marine megafauna http://goo.gl/Z6F9F6
    view full post

    January 18, 2015

  • David Shiffman, Ph.D.
    @whysharksmatter.bsky.social (Bluesky)

    Sizing ocean giants: patterns of intraspecific size variation in marine megafauna https://peerj.com/articles/715/ You should read this!
    view full post

    January 13, 2015

Abstract Synopsis

  • The study examines the size of the largest marine megafauna, noting challenges in obtaining accurate measurements due to rarity and remoteness.
  • It reviews 25 species, documenting the largest known sizes, analyzing body size variation related to sex and environment, and identifying gaps in existing data.
  • The findings reveal significant variability in size distributions and provide allometric scaling equations for estimating sizes, while highlighting human impacts on size and geographic variations.