On January 20, 2025, in Lima, Peruvian scientists revealed an almost complete fossil of Cosmopolitodus hastalis, an extinct type of shark. The fossil, discovered in the Pisco Basin—a desert area about 235 km south of Lima—showed the remains of sardines in the shark’s stomach, suggesting its last meal was preserved for about 9 million years. The Pisco Basin was once the seafloor, and Cosmopolitodus hastalis was a large predator, reaching up to 7 meters in length with teeth over 8.9 centimeters long. The Peruvian geological, mining, and metallurgical institute, INGEMMET, displayed the fossil in glass cases, including a massive jaw lined with sharp teeth. Engineer César Augusto Chacaltana from INGEMMET presented the fossil to the press, noting that while the species could grow to 7 meters, the size of the individual found has not been confirmed. The fossil’s stomach contents give insight into the shark’s diet. Paleontologist Mario Urbina explained that sardines were the primary food source for Cosmopolitodus hastalis, as anchovies, now dominant in Peruvian waters, had not yet evolved. A similar discovery was made in 2017, when a juvenile Cosmopolitodus hastalis from the same Pisco Basin area was found with sardine remains in its abdomen. That study, published in the Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia by Collareta and his team, marked the first evidence of this shark’s diet. However, the 2025 fossil is a separate individual and not the same as the 2017 specimen. Scientists debate the relationship between Cosmopolitodus hastalis and the great white shark. Some believe it may be a distant ancestor or close relative, while others suggest it is more closely related to makos, another group of fast-swimming sharks with blade-like teeth. The connection remains uncertain, and researchers prefer terms like “presumed ancestor” or “close relative” to describe the relationship. The 2025 fossil was unveiled during an official ceremony, not through a scientific publication, and no detailed analysis of the jaw or sardine remains has been released yet. The discovery offers new opportunities for understanding the life and behavior of Cosmopolitodus hastalis. Researchers are eager to see what future studies of the fossil will reveal about this ancient predator. As the first nearly complete specimen of its kind, it provides a rare glimpse into the prehistoric marine world of the Pisco Basin and the ecological role of this massive shark in its environment.