Humans and sharks have the same ancestors

A fossil from the Devonian century revealed the time when the common ancestor of this species and humans survived.

According to a new report published by the University of Chicago research team (USA), at 440 million years ago, a common ancestor of humans and sharks once existed on Earth. That period was named Silur, which lasted from 443 million to 416 million years ago, when the first mushrooms and arthropods began to leave the ocean on the ground.

It sounds funny, but you and the sharks really share the same ancestor in the Silur era - (photo: LIVE SCIENCE).

The study focused on the analysis of a 385-million-year-old ancient shark fossil Gladbachus adentatus , which lived during the post-Silurian period. The results of the tomography show that the shark tops a large branch in the shark's genealogy.

Comparing with previous research results, scientists have calculated that at least 440 million years have passed since sharks and humans shared a common ancestor. These ancestors then had diverse evolution, and the shark family branched off the genealogy, forming a family that dominated the sea. Meanwhile, some ancient brethren sought to go ashore and had their own evolutionary steps, including human ancestors.

Images cut the layer of ancient shark bones - (photos provided by the team).

According to Professor Michael Coates, Department of Biological Anatomy, University of Chicago, finding this fossil is a blessing for paleontology, because the ancient sharks were often found in the form of a mess of bones. The 80 cm-long shark they studied had a relatively complete joint bone.

The study also found that Gladbachus adentatus is not without teeth as previously thought. On the contrary, it has some primitive teeth and is dangerous enough.