Sharks have existed on Earth for over 400 million years. 

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Early Devonian period
(410 MILLION years ago)

Doliodus problematicus is thought to have risen from within a group of fish known as acanthodians, which have a cartilaginous skeleton, shark-like skull and jaw, and some shark-like teeth - often fused together.

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Middle Devonian period
(380 MILLION years ago)

The genus Antarctilamna appeared in this era. It’s about this time that Cladoselache also evolved with a torpedo-shaped body, forked tail, and dorsal fin.

 

Carboniferous period
(359 MILLION years ago)

• Stethacanthus - peculiar anvil-shaped fin on its back

• Helicoprion - spiral buzz saw-like bottom jaw

• Falcatus - the males had a long spine jutting out of the back and over the top of the head

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Palaeogene period
(66 MILLION to 23 MILLION years ago)

​Otodus obliquus existed in this era, the ancestor to megalodon (Otodus megalodon)