Approximately how long ago did sharks, as a whole lineage, establish their ancestry prior to dinosaurs?
Answer
Over 450 million years ago
Sharks, representing the Chondrichthyes class, possess an exceptionally deep ancestry within the history of life in the oceans. This lineage stretches back over 450 million years, establishing their presence in the geologic record long before the age of the dinosaurs began. While the whale shark itself is a specialized descendant from this ancient stock, its overall lineage demonstrates remarkable endurance across major environmental shifts spanning hundreds of millions of years. This ancient origin contrasts with the relatively more recent adaptations, like gigantism and filter feeding, seen in *Rhincodon typus*.
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