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Time of India

Stealth predator sharks dating back 325 million years found in world's largest cave

In a stunning revelation, scientists have unearthed shark fossils dating back 325 million years in Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. These remarkable finds not only represent two distinct shark species but also challenge previous timelines regarding the evolution of a specific shark lineage. Sharks much older than the T-Rex found in world's largest cave in US Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Recent excavations in Mammoth Cave , Kentucky, recognized as the world's largest cave system at over 420 miles (675 km), have yielded two significant shark fossil finds dating back approximately 325 million years, researchers reportThe fossils belong to two species of ctenacanth sharks and. Both species are estimated to have reached lengths of 10–12 feet (3–3.6 m), comparable in size to today's oceanic whitetip discovery ofpushes the origin of its family, Heslerodidae, back by over 50 million remains were embedded in limestone layers deposited during the Middle to Late Mississippian period, when much of eastern North America was submerged under a warm, shallow sea A particularly notable aspect of this discovery is the preservation of cartilage, which rarely fossilizes. A juvenilespecimen includes intact jaw cartilage, offering fresh anatomical insights into early shark physiology Paleontologist John‑Paul Hodnett, collaborating with the National Park Service Paleontology Program, highlighted the importance of these fossils for understanding shark diversification during the assembly of cave's stable environment played a vital role in preserving fragile structures like cartilage .Excavations remain active, with ongoing fieldwork uncovering additional specimens and refining our understanding of ancient marine ecosystems. The research has been submitted to the