Sharks: Older Than Trees, But Facing Extinction

Sharks have navigated Earth's oceans for an awe-inspiring 400 million years, a timescale that dwarfs the existence of trees and even the current North Star. These ancient predators first emerged in the Late Ordovician period, long before life colonized land. Their early forms were primitive, but their cartilage skeletons offered a significant evolutionary advantage.

Remarkably, sharks have survived multiple mass extinction events, including the Permian-Triassic extinction that eradicated over 90% of marine life and the event that ended the age of dinosaurs. Some modern species, like the Greenland shark, live for over 400 years, making them some of the longest-living vertebrates.

However, their long history of survival is now threatened by human actions. With over 100 million sharks killed annually for their fins and meat, and as bycatch, their populations are in steep decline. Many of the over 500 shark species are now classified as endangered, facing a future far more perilous than any ancient catastrophe.