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Evolutionary Timeline of the Shark

By pseudonope
  • Period: 450 BCE to 400 BCE

    Silurian Era

    443 million years to 416 million. The Acanthodian is a species of bony fish which develops here and starts the shark bloodline.
  • Period: 419 BCE to 358 BCE

    Devonian Era

    419 million years to 358 million years ago. The Leonodus shark and Antarctilamna evolved here, and were considered the first fully developed sharks. Later into the era, the Cladoselache shark developed, with different body features compared to its ancestors which resemble more recent species.
  • Period: 359 BCE to 299 BCE

    Carboniferous Era

    359 million years to 299 million years ago. Sharks in this period of history were at their most diverse, with interesting body features such as the Stethacanus shark with an anvil-like fin on top.
  • Period: 199 BCE to 145 BCE

    Jurassic Era

    199 million to 145 million years ago. Sharks in this time developed traits such as flexible jaws, tail fins and other abilities.
  • Period: 145 BCE to 65 BCE

    Cretaceous Period

    145 million years to 65 million years ago. Some shark species from this period still exist to this day. The Lamnidae sharks, who are believed to be the source of the modern shark anatomy, developed here.
  • Period: 60 BCE to 1 BCE

    Early Cenozoic Era

    60 million years ago, the Megalodon was a shark spanning 65 feet in length and weighing around 30 tons. It is considered to be the most popular prehistoric shark.
  • Period: 1 CE to

    Cenozoic Era

    The current shark population is a mix of recent evolutions from the current era and ancient sharks from the Cretaceous period. Source: https://www.sharksider.com/timeline-shark-evolution/