Ancient shark-like fish appeared much earlier than previously thought – study

Researchers say ancient shark-like fish appeared much earlier than previously thought (Heming Zhang/PA)

The first appearance of shark-like jawed fish may have happened some 15 million years earlier than previously thought, new evidence suggests.

A handful of fossil teeth from a completely new species suggests the creatures emerged some time at the end of the Ordovician, or beginning of the Silurian, period – around 440 million years ago.