Rare Sighting Of Frilled Shark in Japan
You're looking at a sight rarely seen in human history -- a 5-foot (1.5-meter) frilled shark, a living specimen of an ancient species once thought extinct. She doesn't look happy to see you, but don't take offence. Frilled sharks avoid the spotlight.
This "living fossil" flared her gills for the cameras last month at Japan's Awashima Marine Park, but she wasn't there to show off. The park's staff brought her in after a fisherman alerted them to a "strange eel-like fish with razor sharp teeth" swimming nearby. She died a few hours after being captured, and was likely sick before she wound up at the surface.
Frilled sharks normally stay well beneath the waves--at depths of a few hundred to a few thousand feet (120 to 1,280 meters). There, they use rows of razor-sharp, trident-like teeth to feed on squid, bony fish, and other sharks. They can grow to more than 6 feet (2 meters) in length and are thought to have changed little since prehistoric times.
In addition to their "frills"--really, tissue protruding from six gill slits--frilled sharks are distinguished by their eelish figures and 'terminal mouths.'
To a fish scientist a terminal mouth is one that "opens at the anterior end of the head with upper and lower jaws equal."
Squid may have a different definition.
View Video of recent sighting on this Link
Researchers investigating why the shark was found in shallow waters think she may have surfaced because she was sick and lost her way, or because, along with deep-sea water, she was pushed up to shallow depths by easterly winds and changed ocean temperatures? Another possibility is that she left the deep waters because of cool water temperatures near the surface.
Or perhaps she simply came in search of food?
Source: Reuters.com
KS
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She sure is interesting, isn't she?
How about those teeth on the INSIDE of her gills ... disturbingly beautiful ...
This Frilled Shark reminds me of the pictures I saw of some really wierd deep sea marine life that was washed up during last years Tsunami... some had not been previously identified by mankind!
I had all the pictures on disk, I'll see if I can find them and post a couple.
Thanks for reminding me,
...glad you liked the post ...
Lilla ...
W
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That's exactly how I feel when I see her . . . and I don't know about you, but I can clearly see it is female...
what concerns me here is that melting ice (freshwater) may be sinking lower and causing these creatures to emerge ... and possibly get trapped ... in warmer waters, killing them? Their thermostats cannot be well developed (having spent an eternity on the dark, cold sea bed)?
I'd imagine it to be like when you are in a swimming pool and you loose orientation, not knowing which way is up, to swim to... that sort of thing... who knows...
I'm just devastated that she died.
Lilla ...
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..I'm glad you enjoyed the read...to me, she is one helluva special creature, isn't she?
I agree with Wendi, I just want to pat her... probably regret it though *giggle*
...thanks for the feedback.
Lilla ...
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Yes, I agree, how sick was she, or how shocked was she from the human contact?
How much did we need to kill and study her species? A whole stack of bloody cross sections of this creature appeared on goggle image searches during the week it took me to research and crate the post….???
I keep re-watching the footage of her swimming and I do sense something is wrong, [Iiwhy is she struggling[/I] … It may be more than scientists think and she may well be the first ‘messenger,’ that something is very wrong on the ocean floor, perhaps ?
They obviously chopped her up to find out and I wonder what they found?
I will keep digging for updates ...
In simpatico,
Lilla …
"and if reincarnation is indeed a free will choice we make, then I wonder why I came to watch it die,"
Simple, Lovely Lilla Lady... the world needed a warrior.
Much respect,
W
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*bows*
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...er...I'll leave the 'friendly' gestures to you and Wendi, LL....being a waterskiier, I have a healthy 'respect' for all 'pretty' sea beings....
...but still.....wow....and ohhhh....
...a sacrifice had to be made? To deliver the message?
Amazing.
Hope you're well LL...
Dusk
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I thank you for your comment, I am ever grateful that you enjoy my posts.
..and appreciate your feedback,
... hope you are keeping well...
Lilla …
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*laughing loudly*
Ha! snap, I am(was) a skier too … well used to be, too, haven’t skied in ages... but I do know what you mean about healthy respect for critters that you share the waterways with *chuckle*
However, I agree, she was magnificent and who knows … I am still so sad about her dying.
I am well thank you, I hope the same for you ...
...hope your weekend was special ...
Lilla …
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wow! what an interesting creature... the head of a snake, the body of a mermaid, the tail of an outcrop of seaweed...so beautiful.
When I was in Scotland we went up to Loch Ness and got to talking to a researcher who works up there. The stories that he told us of creatures that they have seen swimming around there (besides Nessie) were just incredible. Because it is so deep they only catch sightings of them very, very rarely, some of the footage has been used to make into National Geographic documentaries but some just left....all part of the mystery of the area I guess.
Some may believe that part of what he was saying was rubbish...you know the whole Nessie legend...but I truly believe there are all these creatures and the like out there...look at the Octopus they just hauled off New Zealand...and there are a small group of people left in the world who protect them. When asked why they don`t just drain the Loch and capture all these animals he said that we need to respect them and allow them to come to us...they are highly intelligent creatures and they come to those who are worthy.
Sadly this lovely lady was ill...hopefully not to do with us humans but highly likely I suppose. Have you seen they have captured stingers off Fraser Island? Everything changing around us isn`t it?
Thanks for this post...I found all the info really interesting. Sad though that it had to be brought to our attention under such dire circumstances.
have a great evening
ash
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I like this man. Were ever truer words ever spoken?
Sadly though, it is so unlikely to happen in our lifetime.
Nice to see you Ash,
...have a great evening...
Lilla ...
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good stuff Lilla
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Good to see you too... glad you enjoyed the post. She is special, isn't she?
I loved your post of new species too, really interesting...
Thanks for the feedback and compliment.
Lilla ...
PS For those of you interested in looking at some (really interesting) newly discovered animal species, check out Luke's Posts - here and here.
They are amazing, especially the Australian Tree Kangaroo!
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She was special, for sure.
Thanks for your comment
Lilla ...
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She's so beautiful..
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I've never seen anything like it before!
Such precious information you have given Lilla, and thank you so much for sharing with us.
Have a blessed week ahead
Jessicca
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No, not at all, please be my guest. It's my pleasure that she be known to everyone.
Thank you
Lilla ...
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A special friend to share your waters, or dolphin eating predator? So little is known about her species...
Hoping your week is special too, my friend.
Lilla ...
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It's too bad that the shark died in captivity... but perhaps it was going to die anyway...
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Terribly sad she died. Id like to believe she was already sick but I dont like that she was captured THEN died....Doesnt look good to me. Wild ones should be left to their choices if they are still able to make them.
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I agree... [as I've said before] she was quite amazing ...
Lilla
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I have to agree with you 100% about it looking suspicious, even if it wasn’t, she would have been well dissected by now … for what? That’s the question, isn’t it?
If it was to truly discover why she may have been ill, died and was found floating near the surface… fair enough. But to discover that her species has six stomaches, and three ears, and four bladders, rates as criminal activity in my book.
Interesting about your shark hobby… sounds like this might be a sign for you to finish that book…?
Lilla
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Thank you so much for this. All I hear about in my neck of the woods is about sharks being put down for killing children and adults off the Texas coast. It would help if visitors would read the coastline signs about shark "feeding areas". Very frustrating indeed!
Mis
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What an amazing creature.
Thank you for posting the pictures and
video. How much
we have to learn...
Theresa
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It's the same here too. Plain Stupid, I call it. My brother-in-law surfs with sharks in the water here on the Gold Coast ... they have a natural sense of order and respect worked out on his beach - which is near a channel where the sharks go to feed. They don't eat the surfers as a rule. I think everyone on this planet must realise by now that only rogue sharks and certain activity encourages certain situations... but no... you just can't talk to some people.
Otherwise, we have stupid situations now with Stingray's too, because of Steve Irwin's untimely demise. Another species vilified because of some inanpropriate actions?
I'm glad you enjoyed the post and like you, I hope lots and lots of people get to see it over time...
Good to
Lilla ...
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Thank you for your comment.
You are not wrong. We have oodles to learn and her species are incredible... well I hope there is a species? What if she was the last to float to the surface as temperatures become warmer deeper down [or flooded with freshwater?... there is so much yet to discover, as you so rightly say...
I'm glad you also enjoyed her :visit:
Lilla ...
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What you say is very true, they could have been bitten, couldn't they? But I think she must have been very sick.. or perhaps not used to eating humans as part of her diet. Coming from so deep down in the ocean, she must never have seen such strange creatures as humans? Maybe she was scared of us?
Thank you for your wonderful comment.
Lilla ...