Diving deep to learn more about this benthopelagic species-
time to meet the Frilled shark!
FAMILY: Chlamydoselachidae
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Chlamydoselachus anguineus
COMMON NAMES: Frilled Shark, Frill-gilled shark, Greenland shark, Scaffold shark, Silk shark
This shark gets its name from the 'frilly' appearance of its gill slits.
TYPE: Fish
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (Last Assessed 2015)
SIZE:
Frilled sharks are a long eel-like/snake-like shark species that reach lengths up to ~6.5ft (2m) and are thought to reach sexual maturity at around 4ft-5ft (~1.35m - 1.5m) long.
AVERAGE LIFE SPAN:
Since these sharks dwell in the deep sea, they are very rarely encountered in the wild by researchers. Scientists have pieced together a deeper glimpse into life as a Frilled shark through examining dead specimens collected from the fishing industry, from rare filmed encounters and even some captive specimens.
Frilled sharks reproduce via internal fertilization (Ovoviviparous) and give live birth to pups around 1.3ft long after an estimated gestation period of 1-3 years. While exact breeding season and mating behavioral details may be a mystery for now, the average litter size for the Frilled shark is 6 pups but could be as many as 15.
DID YOU KNOW:
Chlamydoselachus anguineus, is one of two known species of frilled sharks. The southern African frill shark, C. africana, was recently discovered (2009) off southern Angola, Namibia and South Africa!
The two species have different proportional measurements such as one having a longer head and shorter gill slits as well as C. africana, having more vertebrae (160–171 vs 147) and more turns in the spiral valve intestine (35–49 versus 26–28).
DISTRIBUTION:
The Frilled shark ranges in oceans worldwide, mainly in the deep dark depths (pelagic to benthic zones) in tropical to subpolar latitudes.
These prehistoric sharks with their distinctive eel-like swimming method frequent off-shore shelves, upper continental and island slopes at depths between ~400ft - 5,150ft (~120m and 1,570m).
DIET:
Scientists believe Frilled sharks to be "active predators" that may lunge at potential prey, then using their long, flexible jaws and needle-like teeth to swallow large prey (up to half their size!) whole.
The main prey for these sharks is squid and with several rows of long teeth, each with three points, they are experts at snagging soft bodies of squid, an unwary fish or even other shark species.
DID YOU KNOW:
Frilled sharks are highly specialized for life in the deep having poorly-calcified skeletons and enormous livers filled with low-density lipids that allow them to maintain their position in the water.
CONSERVATION:
Little is known about Frilled sharks and their ecology since they are so rarely encountered by humans and are likely naturally rare.
Frilled sharks are accidentally caught as bycatch in bottom and midwater trawls, deep-set longlines, and in deep-set gillnets from fisheries targeting other species, and in some cases, they may be kept and used as food. For example, in Japan, this species has been occasionally in fish markets or kept in aquaria.
It's important to note that since these sharks are so rare, scientists don't know about their populations, which threats may be at play, etc. Frilled sharks as well as other deep sea dwelling animals are threatened by the ever-growing consequences of climate change and the increased deep-sea mining/fossil fuel industry activities; like most shark species they share an uncertain future.
Check out more in-depth information about
this species with below source links and organizations!