Frilled shark
| Frilled shark | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Subclass: | |
| Order: | Hexanchiformes, proposed Clamydoselachiformes
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| Family: | Chlamydoselachidae Garman, 1884
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| Genus: | Chlamydoselachus
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| Species: | C. anguineus
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| Binomial name | |
| Chlamydoselachus anguineus Garman, 1884
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| Range of frilled shark (in blue) | |
The frilled shark, Chlamydoselachus anguineus, is a primitive shark species, of the family Chlamydoselachidae in the order Hexanchiformes. The Southern African frilled shark is a proposed new species from the Southern African range. These two species are very different from the other hexanchiform sharks, and it has recently been proposed that the two frilled sharks should be given their own order: Chlamydoselachiformes. Additional extinct types are known from fossil teeth; thought to be extinct itself, it was only discovered in Japanese waters in the 19th century.[2] On January 21, 2007, a specimen was found alive off the coast of Japan near the Awashima Marine Park in Shizuoka, southwest of Tokyo. The shark was captured but, being in poor health, died shortly afterwards.[3]
Appearance
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Superficially, the frilled shark resembles a dark brown or grey eel, but the six gill slits identify it as a shark. The tissue of the gill slits protrudes somewhat, thus inspiring the common name. Its dorsal fin is small, anal fin large, and the caudal fin (tail fin) is highly asymmetric, the dorsal part almost unnoticeable. Its teeth are small, tricuspid, and very sharp. It has been recorded at up to 2 m (6.5 ft) in length.
Distribution
Distribution is worldwide, but they are very rarely found in shallow water. They have been reported in all oceans but are mainly found near Norway, South Africa, New Zealand, and Chile. The sharks are usually found at depths of between 50 m and 1,500 m. They typically eat squid, other sharks, and deepwater bony fish.[4]The frilled shark is sometimes referred to as a living fossil partially because the species has changed little since pre-historic times.[5]
Reproduction
Reproduction is not well understood, but like many other sharks they bear live young (ovoviviparous), with litter sizes of 2 to 12 pups. Compagno states "They are pregnant for a long time, probably one to two years".
Sightings
Frilled sharks appear regularly in the catches from bottom trawling, and when caught are used as food or for fishmeal.[4]
On January 21 2007, staff at Awashima Marine Park in Shizuoka, southwest of Tokyo, were alerted by fishermen to a 'strange eel-like fish with razor sharp teeth'. The fish was identified as a pregnant female 1.6 m frilled shark and was captured by park staff who were concerned that the shark appeared to be unhealthy. They took it out of the water and put it into a salt water tank where they filmed it and took pictures of it. The shark died a few hours after capture. This rare surface appearance of a frilled shark has been attributed to the animal being unwell and possibly disoriented.[6]
See also
References
- ^ Sepkoski, Jack (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera (Chondrichthyes entry)". Bulletins of American Paleontology. 364: p.560. Retrieved 2008-01-09.
{{cite journal}}:|pages=has extra text (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Allen, Thomas B. (1999). The Shark Almanac. New York: The Lyons Press. p. 48. ISBN 1-55821-582-4.
- ^ CBS news story. Accessed 2007-01-25
- ^ a b Compagno (1984). Sharks of the World: An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. pp. 14–15.
- ^ National Geographic News Photo Gallery: Rare "Prehistoric" Shark Photographed Alive
- ^ "Rare shark captured on film". CNN. Retrieved 2007-01-24.
- General references
- Template:IUCN2006 Database entry includes justification for why this species is near threatened
- "Chlamydoselachus anguineus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. 23 January.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help) - Compagno, Dando, & Fowler, Sharks, Collins Gem, HarperCollins, London 2006) ISBN 0-00-721986-5
- Compagno, Dando, & Fowler, Sharks of the World, Princeton University Press, New Jersey 2005 ISBN 0-691-12072-2
- IUCN 2007. 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 28 September 2007.
External links
- Prehistoric shark - frilled shark photographed
- Video of a frilled shark, filmed on Jan 21, 2007 (Japanese commentary)
- Video of a frilled shark, filmed on Jan 21, 2007 (English commentary by Reuters)
- Video of a frilled shark, filmed on Jan 21, 2007 Awashima marin park (Japanese)
- FishBase entry for Chlamydoselachus anguineus
- Rare shark of the deep snapped
- More info
- Sideview of living Chlamydoselachus anguineus
- Photograph of a live female frilled shark
- (Weird News) A rare eel-like creature identified as frilled shark is discovered in Japan by fisherman
- Rare shark captured on film (CNN, Jan 24, 2007)
