Two new species of sharks have been discovered in Mammoth Cave National Park, home to the world’s longest cave system, stretching nearly 700 kilometers.
It is believed that these predators lived here over 325 million years ago, predating the existence of the supercontinent Pangaea, as reported by Live Science.
The two species have been named Troglocladodus trimblei and Glikmanius careforum, both measuring up to four meters in length and possessing powerful teeth and jaws. Swift swimmers, both species fed on fish, with the latter even preying on other sharks, according to the study's authors.
Both new species belong to the Ctenacanthus, an extinct order of fish known for their strong teeth and unique spines on their dorsal fins.
The cave system where the discovery was made, in some places unexplored, provides the perfect environment for fossil preservation. The remains found here, abundant through the years, offer details that are challenging to find in other fossils exposed to the sun and the elements.