Frilled shark
| Frilled shark |
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| Scientific Classification |
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| Binomial Name |
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Chlamydoselachus anguineus |
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| A dead specimen of the Frilled Shark |
The Frilled shark is a species of shark known by the scientific name Chlamydoselachus anguineus. It has also been called Sea-Serpent, Loch Ness, and is known as a "living fossil" because it has changed very little from discovered fossils. [2] Though the Frilled shark is specially known for its serpentine body shape, and jaws with 25 rows of teeth. [3]
Body Design
The Frilled Shark has an eel-like body, two fins, and a lizard-like head. It also has a small pectoral fins and single dorsal fin. The pelvic, dorsal, and anal fins are all located in the posterior on the body. One of the unique things about the Frilled Shark is that it has a continuous gill across the throat. Unlike most shark the jaws of the Frilled Shark are at the end of the head. Another unique thing about the Frilled Shark jaws are that it has 300 trident shape teeth all arrange in 25 rows.
People have mistaken the Frilled Shark as an sea serpent. Though there have been facts that the Frilled Shark was a shark. One of the facts were that the Frilled Shark could only grow about 6.5 ft. Another one was that the Frilled Shark would rarely visit the surface. [4]
Life Cycle
Since theirs been little information about the Frilled Shark's life span, Scientist have estimated that the Frilled Shark's life span is about 25 years.[5] Though we do know that the Frilled Sharks are viviparous(bringing forth live young that have developed inside the body of the parent). Also the Frilled Shark has one of the longest gestation period(period from the time of conception until birth). It could last up to three and a half years. Which is the the longest for any vertebrates.
During the gestation period, the Frilled shark would give birth to 2-15 at the same time. Though the average is 6. When born the young would be at least 1.31 ft.to 1.97 ft.[6]
Ecology
The Frilled Sharks are most common in places like Japan, South of New Zealand, South Wales and Tasmania in Australia. The Frilled Shark are usually between the depths of 120 m. and 1,280 m. Though they are most common between the depths of 50-20 m. The Frilled Shark usually eat squids, bony fish, or even other sharks. With the frilled shark long, flexible jaws it can swallow animals half of its size. Though with the Frilled Shark huge length it can't deliver strong bites unlike other sharks.
The cool thing about the Frilled is that with its unique body design it has many hunting strategies. For one they would use the rear fins to launch themselves like a spring and attack forward. They could also use their gills to suck fish to their mouths. The frilled also had a very quick digestion rate. [7]
Discovery
The Frilled shark was seen in many places.Though it was first seen in Victoria, Australia. The frilled shark got caught in a net. Soon a man named Simon Boag, CEO of the South East Trawl Fishing Association, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that there was no other fisherman who ever claimed to see the shark before. Simon boag thought that the species look prehistoric due to its appearance. Later the California-based Marine Bio Conservation Society soon described as a Frilled Shark.[8]
There was also another sighting in Tokyo, Japan in 2007. When the fisherman saw the "eel-like" creature; he went to the Awashiwa Marine Park officials to identify the species. The park soon identified it as the Frilled shark. [9]
Video
Video of the first Frilled shark seen by humans
References
- ↑ Chlamydoselachus anguineus Wikispecies. Web. last update on February 7 2014 at 20:04. unknown author.
- ↑ Frilled Shark Discovery. Web. access on January 29, 2015. Author Unknown.
- ↑ Frilled shark Biology of sharks and rays. Web. access on January 14, 2015 Author unknown.
- ↑ Frilled shark Biology of sharks and rays. Web. access on January 14, 2015 Author unknown.
- ↑ Chlamydoselachus anguineus Frill shark Animal Diversity web. Web. Access on January 26, 2015. Author unknown.
- ↑ Frilled Sharks Marine Bio. Web. last-update on January 14, 2013. Author Unknown.
- ↑ Frilled Sharks, Chlamydoselachus anguineus marinebio. Web. last access on January 14,2015, author unknown.
- ↑ Shayovich, Eran. Living Fossil of Frilled Shark Discovered in Australia America Herald. Web. Access on January 29,2015.
- ↑ Frilled Shark Discovery. Web. access on January 29, 2015. Author Unknown.
