Beasts From Deep In The Water
Sharks have been part of Earth’s oceans for an extraordinarily long time, and it's amazing that some species alive today come from very ancient lineages. These creatures are far older than we realize! Here are five of the oldest shark groups still swimming in our waters today.
Dianne Bray / Museum Victoria on Wikimedia
1. Frilled Shark
The frilled shark has an ancient appearance and unusual body shape that immediately makes it seem old. It lives mostly in deep waters, so its rare sightings make it an especially intriguing member of the shark world.
2. Goblin Shark
A shark that looks as scary as it sounds, the goblin shark has a lineage that goes far, far back in shark history. It's best known for its distinctive snout and extendable jaws, which make it very memorable in a highly unsettling way.
3. Greenland Shark
The Greenland shark is famous for its remarkable lifespan, with some individuals estimated to live for centuries. That alone should tell you these are some of the oldest sharks still swimming around! It inhabits cold northern waters and moves at a very slow pace compared to others.
4. Sixgill Shark
The sixgill shark belongs to an ancient group with features that differ from many modern sharks. Thanks to its name, you can already tell that one of its unique features is that it has six gill slits instead of the more common five. It usually lives in deep waters, which makes it rare to find them.
5. Cow Shark
This shark species is part of an old lineage that's as weird as its name suggests. They tend to have more gill slits than most sharks, which gives them a distinctive place among their relatives, and though not as famous as the great white, they're just as fascinating.
