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Ancient Shark Discovery Challenges Evolution Timeline by 15 Million Years

11/29/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Researchers found five vertebrae from a 115-million-year-old shark near Darwin, Australia, belonging to the extinct Cardabiodontidae, indicating a 6–8 meter, over 3-tonne animal.
The find predates all known Cardabiodontids by 15 million years, suggesting large shark sizes evolved earlier than previously thought.
The Swedish Museum of National History coordinated the study, and it was published in Communications Biology.

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Story summary

Researchers found five vertebrae from a 115-million-year-old shark near Darwin, Australia, belonging to the extinct Cardabiodontidae, indicating a 6–8 meter, over 3-tonne animal.
The find predates all known Cardabiodontids by 15 million years, suggesting large shark sizes evolved earlier than previously thought.
The Swedish Museum of National History coordinated the study, and it was published in Communications Biology.