Over 200 Million Years of Evolution Separate Sixgill Sharks From Many Modern Species

This living predator split from other sharks before mammals existed.

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🤯 Did You Know (click to read)

Sharks as a group are older than most modern vertebrate lineages.

Genetic and fossil evidence indicates sixgill shark lineages diverged from many modern shark groups over 200 million years ago. Their anatomy reflects early shark evolutionary stages that predate mammalian dominance.

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💥 Impact (click to read)

While entire terrestrial ecosystems transformed, deep-sea shark lineages persisted with comparatively modest anatomical change. The deep ocean offered stability across geological upheavals.

A living animal swimming today embodies evolutionary continuity stretching back to a world without birds, grass, or primates. Few large predators can claim such temporal endurance.

Source

Smithsonian Ocean Portal

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