Ancient sharks may have had breathing difficulties due to low oxygen levels near the ocean floor in Cretaceous times, says study.
Ancient underwater volcanic eruptions may have made modern day sharks more fierce then their predecessors, a new study has found.The infamous shark species we know of today evolved from stubby bottom dwellers around 93 million years ago when a spew of lava poured into the ocean, the study reported. This caused carbon dioxide levels to soar. This meant a drastic change in climate, making the ocean temperatures hotter than they had ever been.
Researchers believe ancient sharks faced breathing difficulties due to low oxygen levels near the ocean floor during the Cretaceous period, prompting some to adapt to open waters.During the Cretaceous period, sea surface temperatures were much warmer than today, averaging about 83 degrees Fahrenheit compared to today's 68 degrees. This high heat didn't happen overnight, and neither did the evolution of sharks.
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