Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Unusual prehistoric shark beast captured in Japan

Article from mongabay.com
January 24, 20007




A rare frilled shark was captured live by fishermen off the coast of Japan. The toothy eel-like creature was taken to Awashima Marine Park in Shizuoka where it later died according to Reuters.

The 5-foot (1.6 meter) long beast was believed to be ill because it was found in shallow waters. Generally the species, known as Chlamydoselachus anguineus, lives at a depth of 488-4550 feet (150-1400 m). It is considered a primitive shark, largely unchanged since prehistoric times.

"We believe moving pictures of a live specimen are extremely rare," Reuters quoted an official at the park as saying. "They live between 600 and 1000 metres under the water, which is deeper than humans can go. We think it may have come close to the surface because it was sick, or else it was weakened because it was in shallow waters."

1 comment:

TMTW said...

Hello Kyle,

Hope all is going well with you.

~ Autrice