Nearly complete ancestor of great white shark discovered in Peru

Paleontologists in Peru have made a significant discovery with the unearthing of a nearly complete 9-million-year-old fossil of Cosmopolitodus hastalis, an ancestor of the great white shark, in the Pisco Basin, located about 235 kilometers south of Lima. This extinct mackerel shark, which could grow up to 7 meters long and had teeth measuring 8.9 centimeters, is believed to have been a dominant predator in the southern Pacific Ocean, primarily feeding on sardines. The fossil's exceptional preservation offers valuable insights into the shark's anatomy and diet, with stomach contents revealing numerous sardines, indicating they were a staple food source during that era. Researchers highlighted the rarity of such complete shark fossils, emphasizing the importance of this find for understanding prehistoric marine ecosystems. The discovery was made by the Peruvian geological and mining institute (INGEMMET), showcasing the Pisco Basin's reputation for frequent marine fossil discoveries. This finding adds to previous notable paleontological discoveries in Peru, including fossils from ancient crocodiles and river dolphins.