Talk about a historic find. A literal sea monster has been found in Portugal, caught off the Algarve coast, and its discovery has caused waves (oceanic pun intended) in the scientific community.
The frilled shark has the body of a snake, but the jaws of a sea predator, and was found by EU fish stock researchers. The species of shark dates back 80 million years, and it would have existed much the same as it does now during the jurassic period. The Portuguese Institute For The Sea And Atmosphere have called the beast a “living fossil,” which considering its lineage is a fairly apt description.
A few of these great dinosaurs of the sea have been found in the past off the coasts of Australia, Japan and New Zealand. This particular fish measured 1.5 metres in length, and was captured at an astonishing depth of 701 metres. The snakelike creature is shrouded in mystery, with little known about the nature of its existence. This is due to the fact that very few frilled sharks have been caught in the past.
According to Professor Margarida Castro of the University of the Algarve, the shark gets its name from the frilled arrangement of its 300 teeth, which allow it to trap squid, fish and other sharks in sudden lunges.
Sleep well imagining this terrifying thing coming to say hello next time you’re swimming at the beach.
