A shark said to be “from the age of the dinosaurs” with 300 teeth was recently captured by Portuguese scientists.
The scientists described the shark as a “living fossil” that dated back 80 million years. They caught it while working on a project for the European Union to minimize “unwanted catches in commercial fishing,” according to Sic Notices TV. The shark has a snake-like look with an elongated frame and is said to live in great depths off the coasts of Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.
Professor Margarita Castro of the University of the Algarve told Sic Notices that the shark uses it's astounding 300 teeth to capture prey. She explained that the teeth “allows it to trap squid, fish and other sharks in sudden lunges.” The creature has been dubbed the frilled shark thanks to its unique teeth arrangement.
Scientists claim that it is rarely caught and that not many of them have been able to reach research laboratories for further study. The creature is said to have inspired sailor’s tales of sea serpents due to it’s snake-like appearance. The specimen captured by the Portuguese measured in at 5 feet length and was caught at a depth of 2,300 feet in waters off the resort of Portimao.
Source: complex.com
