Sharks Are Older Than Trees

Sharks are ancient survivors of a kind we rarely appreciate. Sharks first appeared in Earth's oceans about 450 million years ago — long before the dinosaurs, before complex land life, and remarkably, even before trees existed on Earth.

Trees (as woody plants) only evolved approximately 350 million years ago. This means sharks were already swimming the oceans for 100 million years before the first tree grew from the ground. Sharks have survived five mass extinction events, including the one that wiped out the dinosaurs, making them one of the most successful species in evolutionary history.