However, it is now understood that the great white shark holds closer ties to the mako sharks and is descended from a separate lineage as a chronospecies unrelated to the mega-toothed sharks. This was proven with the discovery of a transitional species that connected the great white to an unserrated shark known as "Carcharodon hastalis". This transitional species, which was named "Carcharodon hubbelli" in 2012, demonstrated a mosaic of evolutionary transitions between the great white and "C. hastalis", namely the gradual appearance of serrations, in a span of between 8 to 5 million years ago. The progression of "C. hubbelli" characterized shifting diets and niches; by 6.5 million years ago, the serrations were developed enough for "C. hubbelli" to handle marine mammals. Although both the great white and "C. hastalis" were known worldwide, "C. hubbelli" is primarily found in California, Peru, Chile, and surrounding coastal deposits, indicating that the great white had Pacific origins. "C. hastalis" continued to thrive alongside the great white until its last appearance around one million years ago and is believed to have possibly sired a number of additional species, including "Carcharodon subserratus" and "Carcharodon plicatilis".