The
frilled shark (
Chlamydoselachus anguineus) is one of two extant
species of
shark in the
family Chlamydoselachidae, with a wide but patchy distribution in the
Atlantic and
Pacific Oceans. This uncommon species is found over the outer
continental shelf and upper
continental slope, generally near the bottom though there is evidence of substantial upward movements. It has been caught as deep as 1,570 m (5,150 ft), whereas in
Suruga Bay,
Japan it is most common at depths of 50–200 m (160–660 ft). Exhibiting several "primitive" features, the frilled shark has often been termed a "
living fossil". It reaches a length of 2 m (6.6 ft) and has a dark brown,
eel-like body with the
dorsal,
pelvic, and
anal fins placed far back. Its
common name comes from the frilly or fringed appearance of the
gill slits, of which there are six pairs with the first pair meeting across the throat.
Seldom observed, the frilled shark is speculated to capture its prey by bending its body and lunging forward like a snake. The long, extremely flexible jaws enable it to swallow large prey whole, while the many rows of small, needle-like teeth prevent escape. It feeds mainly on
cephalopods, while also consuming
bony fishes and other sharks. This species is
aplacental viviparous: the
embryos emerge from their
egg capsules inside the mother's
uterus, and are sustained to term primarily by
yolk. The
gestation period may be as long as three and a half years, the longest of any
vertebrate. Between 2 and 15 young are born at a time; there is no distinct
breeding season. Frilled sharks are occasionally captured as
bycatch by
commercial fisheries but have little economic value. The
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed it as
Near Threatened, since given its very low reproductive rate even incidental catches may deplete its population. This shark, or a supposed giant relative, has been suggested as a source for reports of
sea serpents.
Frilled shark - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia