Blonde By Nature

On January 21st, 2007 a fisherman called the authorities with a description of a “’strange eel-like fish with razor sharp teeth’” – a very very very rare female Frilled Shark had been spotted!

This was a special event indeed as it is a shark that has never been seen alive because it lives 4,200 feet deep under the sea (deeper than humans can go). It was also thought to be extinct until it was found for the first time in the late 19th century. It was even more exciting because scientists have fossil evidence that this shark dates back to 95 million years ago and is similar to this present day shark thus making it the oldest prehistoric shark specimen alive.

Frilled sharks resemble that of an eel with a long, lean body and tail. Its six gills (instead of five gills like other sharks) are covered by a “frilly” skin that gives it its name. Not much is known about the shark to the point that authorities have had difficult time classifying it and have landed on an agreement that it deserves its own classification called the Chlamydoselachiformes. (Try saying that three times quickly!)

After examining the five foot long shark, marine experts decided to transfer it to their facility because she looked unhealthy and/or the warm waters weakened her. Not sure how they could tell she was unwell (because they still don’t know much about this shark) but they also determined she was pregnant.

While at the Awashima Marine Park in Shizuoka, (south of Tokyo) experts filmed her in action for roughly two hours until she perished – experts believed it had to do with her being unwell to begin with (I’m sure it would have nothing to do with the fact they transferred her into a false saltwater sea-tank and the stress of it all).

Check out the amazing video here: Prehistoric shark captured on film.

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