A strange prehistoric shark that lived during the age of dinosaurs is giving scientists new clues about how modern sharks evolved — and raising fresh questions at the same time.
The small shark, known as Bavariscyllium, does not fit neatly into any group of sharks alive today, suggesting that the early history of sharks was more complex than researchers once believed.
The fossil comes from the famous Solnhofen Limestone in Bavaria, Germany, a site known for its exceptionally well-preserved fossils.
Dating back about 150 million years, the deposit has produced many remarkable discoveries, including the iconic feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx.
Now, several newly examined skeletons and teeth of Bavariscyllium have allowed scientists to study this unusual shark in far greater detail than before.
The animal was relatively small, measuring only about 25 centimeters long, and had a slender, eel-like body. One of its most unusual features is a whisker-like sensory organ located in its throat area.
Scientists believe this structure may have helped the shark detect movement or vibrations in the water.
Similar sensory organs are seen today in only a few species of carpet sharks, a group that includes the enormous whale shark, the largest fish alive.
At the same time, Bavariscyllium also shows similarities to cat sharks, which belong to a different shark group known as ground sharks. This group includes familiar species such as hammerheads and tiger sharks. Because of these mixed characteristics, researchers initially thought the prehistoric shark might belong to the ground shark lineage.
However, the new study found that the animal’s features do not clearly match either group.
Instead, it appears to represent a form that existed before modern shark lineages fully separated. This suggests that early sharks experimented with a wide range of body shapes and traits long before the groups we recognize today emerged.
The shape of the shark’s teeth indicates that it was likely a generalist feeder, eating small prey rather than specializing in a particular type of food. This flexible diet may have been common among early sharks as they adapted to different environments.
The discovery also has important implications for how scientists interpret fossil teeth. Shark skeletons are rarely preserved because their bodies are mostly cartilage, so many ancient sharks are known only from teeth. Some teeth previously thought to belong to early members of modern shark groups may actually come from unusual species like Bavariscyllium. If so, the timeline for the origin of modern shark families may need to be reconsidered.
Researchers say the fossil highlights just how diverse sharks were during the dinosaur era. Instead of neatly fitting into today’s categories, some ancient species represent evolutionary experiments that did not survive to the present day.
By uncovering these puzzling forms, scientists are gradually piecing together the true story of shark evolution. Each new fossil discovery adds another piece to a complex puzzle, revealing that the history of these ancient predators is far richer — and stranger — than anyone expected.
