How long sharks been around

As apex predators animals that are at the top of the food chain , sharks play an important role in the ecosystem by maintaining the species below them in the food chain — helping remove the weak and sick, helping keep the ocean and fish populations healthy.

Sharks have existed for more than million years, whereas the earliest tree, lived around million years ago. Based on fossil evidence, they grew between a whopping 15 to 18 metres, liking weighing more than 25 tonnes — making the great white seem tiny in comparison 6 metres in length and 2.

In scientists discovered that the elusive chain catshark and swell shark communicate with each other by releasing glowing light from their skin in patterns that are unique to each species and even sex.

Invisible to the naked eye, the fluorescent green spots are only visible when a blue filter light is shined on them. Even though sharks have great vision, scientists believe that sharks are most likely colour-blind.

In researchers at Macquarie University discovered that Port Jackson sharks have their own individual personalities, just like us. The study showed that each shark has their own way of responding to stress and unfamiliar environments, with some more bold than others.

Just like us, sharks come in all different shapes and sizes! Fossilized shark teeth don't appear until the Devonian period, which began about million years ago. While the rest of a shark's bones don't fossilize well, the shark's teeth do, and a shark grows thousands of teeth in its lifetime.

Paleontologists found some of the oldest shark teeth in Europe, and these are believed to be around million years old. By analyzing fossilized teeth, paleontologists discover details about shark species, size and behavior. When archaeologists uncover fossilized remains, they take samples of the soil, volcanic ash and other bone fragments from the geological sediment layer where the fossil they want to date was found.

Using geochemical processes to date things surrounding the fossil they arrive at an approximate age of the fossil itself. One method focuses on rare earth elements that occur naturally in ground water in different amounts at different times in the Earth's history. In his spare time, Tibi likes to make weird music on his computer and groom felines.

Home Environment Animals. Mindblowing fact of the day: sharks are older than trees That's seriously badass! January 29, Reading Time: 3 mins read. This million-year-old fish is Helicoprion. It goes to show just how much sharks have been experimenting with their arsenal. Credit: Sharkopedia. Get more science news like this Tags: sharks trees. By Lucas Joel. But when the beach siren sounds, surfers and swimmers alike tend to lose their cool.

That distinctive rolling wail is a warning that sharks may be nearby. Everyone knows the drill — get out of the water as quickly as you can.