Sharks have been ruling the seas since before trees even thought about sprouting—talk about aquatic seniority! These toothy time travelers predate Saturn’s rings, dinosaurs, and even the North Star. With a 450-million-year resume and a knack for surviving apocalypses, sharks are the ultimate ocean OGs. So, how do these cartilaginous champs keep thriving while the rest of the world plays catch-up?

Sharks Are Older Than Trees, Which Seems Wrong