Xiphactinus-Era Seas Were Patrolled by Early Relatives of Modern Sixgill Sharks

Sharks like this hunted oceans when giant predatory fish ruled the seas.

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🤯 Did You Know (click to read)

Hexanchiform sharks are among the oldest surviving shark orders.

Fossil evidence shows that early hexanchiform sharks existed during the Mesozoic era, sharing oceans with massive predatory fishes such as Xiphactinus. These ancient relatives retained multi-gill traits still visible in modern sixgills.

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💥 Impact (click to read)

Surviving alongside marine reptiles and enormous teleost predators required resilience across volatile evolutionary periods. The sixgill lineage endured while many dominant marine species vanished.

A shark swimming today carries anatomical signatures forged in seas that no longer exist. Its survival across ancient marine arms races underscores the deep sea as an evolutionary refuge.

Source

Smithsonian Ocean Portal

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