Ancient Ancestor
Helicoprion bessonovi was one of our modern-day sharks' distant relatives.

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Ancient History

Based on prehistoric fossil records, we know that sharks have been around for hundreds of millions of years. Here are some interesting distant relatives of our modern-day sharks, including the ancient and extinct Megalodon — one of the biggest and strongest predators to ever swim the oceans.

Helicoprion bessonovi

Pictured at right, this shark’s teeth were arranged in a “tooth whorl,” similar to a modern-day circular saw.

Carcharodon megalodon

The massive Carcharodon megalodon ruled the ocean more than 10 million years ago and has similar characteristics to the modern-day great white. With lengths of up to 59 feet and teeth more than 7 inches long, the school-bus-size shark makes a great white look like a Smart car.

Edestus protopirata

Also known as the “scissor-toothed shark,” Edestus had a curved row of teeth that looked like monstrous pinking shears.

Stethacanthus productus

This small shark is best known for its anvil-shaped dorsal fin and crest.

Triodus sesselensis

A small, freshwater shark that resembled a modern-day conger eel, it went extinct 202 million years ago.