Frilled Shark is a deep ocean creature having the body of a snake or eel and a terrifying toothy mouth. It is a real life sea-serpent. Their scientific name is Chlamydoselachus anguineus. It is one of the world’s more primitive shark species.
This shark was first scientifically described by German ichthyologist Ludwig H.P. Doderlein in the 19th century. He captured two specimens in Tokyo Bay. The shark’s mouth is lined with 25 rows of backward facing teeth that count 300 in total.
Quick Facts: –
- These deepwater eel-like sharks can reach lengths up to 2 meters.
- They also have a pair of thick skin folds running along their bellies. The purpose of these skin folds is unknown.
- It has been suggested that these folds accommodate the expansion of the digestive tract after the ingestion of large prey.
- Frilled Sharks are dark brown or gray in color above, sometimes lighter below.
- The mouth of the frilled shark is located at the end of its body instead of behind the tip of the snout.
- Its mouth gives an appearance of being grander in size than other sharks.
- These sharks have a wide though patchy distribution in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
- Its body cavity is elongate and packed with a liver perfused with low-density oils and hydrocarbons. This makes the shark almost neutrally buoyant at depth.
- These sharks have no nictitating membrane to cover their eyes.
- The skeleton of these sharks is low in calcium.
