Frilled shark
The frilled shark (*Chlamydoselachus anguineus*) is a deep-sea shark known for its eel-like body, six pairs of gill slits, and primitive appearance.
The frilled shark (Chlamydoselachus anguineus) is a deep-sea shark known for its eel-like body, six pairs of gill slits, and primitive appearance. It lives in scattered populations in deep waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and is often described as a “living fossil.”
Description
The frilled shark has a long, slender, eel-like body and a flattened head with a short snout and large terminal mouth. It has six pairs of curved gill slits, which give it its common name. Its anatomy has changed little compared with other modern sharks, leading to its description as a living fossil.
Distribution and habitat
Frilled sharks occur in scattered locations in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. They are usually found on or near the sea floor along continental shelves and upper slopes, at depths of about 50 to 1,500 m. They are rare to uncommon and have a patchy worldwide distribution, though they can occasionally appear near the surface.
Biology and behaviour
Frilled sharks are deep-water predators with a diet that likely includes squid and fish. They are uncommon and rarely observed, and their reproductive biology is poorly known compared with many other shark species.
Conservation
The frilled shark is affected by deep-water fisheries because it is frequently caught as bycatch in trawls and gillnets. Conservation assessments have listed it as Near Threatened, reflecting its rarity and exposure to fishing pressure.
Key facts
- It has a long, slender, eel-like body and a flattened head with a short snout and large terminal mouth.
- The species has six pairs of curved gill slits, which give it its common name.
- Frilled sharks are found in deep waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, usually near the sea floor.
- They are rare to uncommon and have a patchy worldwide distribution.
- The species is often taken as bycatch in deep-water trawls and gillnets.
Frilled sharks are not known as a Canadian species, but they are relevant to Canadian readers through deep-sea biology, comparative zoology, and conservation of rare marine animals.
Frequently asked questions
What is a frilled shark?
Why is it called a living fossil?
Where do frilled sharks live?
How big do frilled sharks get?
Are frilled sharks dangerous to humans?
What threatens frilled sharks?
References
- Sharks.org — https://www.sharks.org/frilled-shark-chlamydoselachus-anguineusSupports: Body shape, gill slits, size, habitat depth, distribution, bycatch, and harmlessness to humans.
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frilled_sharkSupports: Living fossil description, general distribution in Atlantic and Pacific, and deep-water habitat.
- Reading Is Fundamental — https://www.rif.org/literacy-central/reading-experience/frilled-sharkSupports: Habitat, size, living fossil description, bycatch, and Near Threatened status.
- Animal Diversity Web — https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Chlamydoselachus_anguineus/Supports: Global distribution and habitat depth on continental shelves and nearshore areas of large islands.
- MarineBio — https://www.marinebio.org/species/frilled-sharks/chlamydoselachus-anguineus/Supports: Taxonomy, number of known species in the genus, habitat, distribution, and maximum length.
- Shark Guardian — https://www.sharkguardian.org/post/frilled-sharkSupports: Conservation status listing as Least Concern in one source, showing status may differ across references.