400-million-year-old shark discovered in Peru
The remains of the shark, unearthed near Lake Titicaca, is believed to date from the \"Age of Fish\".
Washington: Scientists have discovered the remains of a prehistoric shark dating back 400 million years near Peru's Lake Titicaca, the worlds highest navigable lake.
The "Pucapampella Shark" was unearthed at Imarrucos, a paleontological site at the northwest of Titicaca.
The remains, found by researchers from the State University of Puno in Peru, are believed to date from the Devonian epoch, also known as the "Age of Fish," when various fish species emerged. It is believed to be the 400-million-year-old precursor to todays vertebrae.
Peruvian officials are looking to protect the site by placing it on the list of National Cultural Heritage sites, Xinhua reported.
"That will serve to legally protect it and encourage the scientific study of these fauna, given their great paleontological potential to learn more about the history of life from its origins and its early evolution," said Leonardo Zevallos, from Perus Department of Cultural Heritage. "Soon, we will be able to talk with more knowledge about the Peruvian Devonian seas and their biodiversity," Zevallos added.