Electra – AnimalWorld

The frilled shark is considered a “living fossil”. Its family dates to the Carboniferous period. Initially, scientists considered it a living evolutionary part of an extinct subclass. This was due to its body having primitive traits – long jaws with multi-cusp, trident-shaped teeth and amphistyly.

Experts see frilled sharks as near threatened. This comes from their rarity and occasional fisheries capture. No fisheries specifically target them.

The frilled shark has an eel-like body reaching 7 feet. Its fins sit far back. It lives in deep, dark open ocean waters. Little is known of its ecology since it is rarely seen.

The goblin shark can reach 18-20 feet. One was caught halfway through an 18-day fishing trip. It was likely 15 feet. This is the largest size recorded.

Shark attacks have occurred in Japanese waters. At least 16 were on people and boats.

The frilled shark looks more like an eel than a shark. It has a wide head and mouth with a long, slender body. Its mouth sits at the body’s end. Most sharks have mouths behind their snout’s tip. Its first gill slits are extra long. They extend from the sides to the throat’s underside. The gills have frilly structures that name it.

Experts see frilled sharks as near threatened from rarity and fisheries capture. No fisheries specifically target them. Their family still exists through the Atlantic and Pacific.

The megalodon shark became extinct as whales began growing larger. Research shows this happened at the same time. Removing the 18-meter, 50-ton predators let whales thrive and grow bigger. Fossil evidence has been found across the globe.

The frilled shark is an extremely rare deep-sea shark. It lives 1,500 meters down and grows over 2 meters long. Its mouth holds 25 backward-facing, trident-shaped tooth rows. Females gestate for 3.5 years. It gets its name from its frilled gill lining.

Are frilled sharks harmless?

The frilled shark is found in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It swims deep below where humans are. Its origins trace to 80 million years ago. The frilled shark gets its name from its gills’ frilly appearance. It eats squid, fish, and sharks. Female frilled sharks are larger than males. Their gestation period may be 42 months. Frilled sharks live far up the water column and near the ocean floor. They eat squid, fish, crustaceans and bony fish. The frilled shark has primitive physical traits. It is dark-brown. Its body is long, around 2 meters. Its fins are towards the tail. One was seen off the U.S. southeast coast. Fishermen catch them unintentionally. While not dangerous, its teeth and skin may cut. It lives from 390 to 4,200 feet deep. So it does not threaten humans. Its diet is over 60% mollusks.

Has anyone ever caught a frilled shark?

The frilled shark (Chlamydoselachus anguineus) was a shock find for angler David Guillot. The almost 2m-long, eel-like shark was caught at about 1100m. It is a scarce occurrence on the ends of fishing lines.

The frilled shark is a primitive species that has remained largely unchanged for over 80 million years. There are only about 35 known species of these creatures in the world. They are found in deep water habitats all over the globe. The frilled shark is characterized by its distinctively long, frilled head and teeth.

The frilled shark spends much of its time in deep, dark waters far below the sea surface. Frilled sharks are only very rarely encountered in the wild, so little is known about their ecology.

Carl Moore was the unlikely archeologist of this ichthyological wonder, which he estimates was 18 to 20 feet long.

At least sixteen shark attacks on people and boats were recognized in Japanese waters.

It’s a rare frilled shark that has been caught by a fisherman in Australia. With a mouth packed full of needle-like teeth and a body like an eel’s, the 6-foot-long frilled shark is sometimes described as a fish “fossil” that dates back 80 million years.

Frilled sharks like to eat fish, squid and smaller sharks. The largest remains ever found in a frilled shark belonged to a Japanese catshark that weighed 1.3 pounds.

The frilled shark has 25 rows with a total of 300 needle-like teeth. By comparison, the great white shark has only 50 teeth. This living fossil was caught in waters off south-eastern Victoria, Australia.

How did the frilled shark survive?

The frilled shark is one of the strangest species that live in deep sea and is distributed almost worldwide. Though frilled sharks live 500 – 1500 meters below the surface and rarely come up to higher level, they are still surviving. Frilled Sharks survive even after millions of years mainly due to following reasons. Frilled sharks have few predators and they have the threat of predators only when they come to the higher levels in the sea. The frilled sharks are highly specialized for life in the deep sea with reduced, poorly-calcified skeletons and enormous livers filled with low-density lipids, which allows them to maintain their position in water with little effort.
Frilled sharks probably reproduce by internal fertilization and give birth to live young. Embryos get their energy from yolk sacs, and the mother only gives birth to her young when the juveniles can survive on their own. Their elongated body gives them an eel or snake like appearance. Frilled sharks typically live close to the seabed or in the water column at depths between 500 and 1,000 meters, but may be found as deep as 1,500 meters. However, individuals are sometimes found higher in the water column at depths between 50 and 200 meters.
According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the frilled shark is categorized as “Least Concern”. However, we don’t exactly know how many of them are left in the oceans. Since they are so rarely seen, it’s impossible to estimate their population status. Although they can be found in many different areas around the globe, their distribution seems to be “spotty”. The frilled shark is easily distinguishable by their long, eel-like bodies, which can grow up to six feet in length. These slender predators have a primitive appearance, resembling ancient ancestors of modern sharks.

The fire salamander myth is why these creatures are linked with fire. People thought salamanders could withstand heat and fire as they were seen crawling from flames. Their moist skin was thought to be fireproof.

The salamander’s bright colors warn predators. Females birth live young. It hides under logs and runs out when logs are gathered for fires — hence its name. These salamanders are poisonous with toxins that deter predators and microbes.

People believed the milky substance salamanders exude when scared moistens their skin, allowing them to withstand heat or extinguish fires. Their poison causes convulsions and breathing issues. The toxins concentrate around the head. They don’t bite.

In an old European legend salamanders can tolerate fire. People thought salamanders in logs put on fires could withstand the flames. If you find one, release it. Their moist skin was linked to fire resistance myths. The toxins aren’t lethal but taste very bitter.

Are fire salamanders resistant to fire?

Salamanders are not resistant to fire. They can’t withstand direct exposure to flames without being harmed. However, they have adaptations that allow them to survive in fire-prone environments. One is their ability to regenerate lost limbs.

The legendary salamander is depicted as having an affinity with fire. Grass snakes eat adult fire salamanders. Larger reptiles, hawks and eagles may prey on them.

Many fire salamanders are poisonous. Their toxins attack predators’ nervous systems. It’s best to wear gloves when handling them. Fire salamanders may live 6-50 years.

The belief fire salamanders were born in fire comes from their fiery colors and hiding under logs used for fires. Over time, this myth deeply ingrained their cultural connection to flames.

Fire salamanders often hide under logs. When logs were used for fires, salamanders fled the flames. This gave the impression they were fire-born. But fire still kills them.

Their moist skin lets them withstand some heat. And they regenerate lost limbs. So legends wrongly call them “immune” to fire. Really, salamanders just endure fire-prone habitats better than most.

What are 3 interesting facts about the fire salamander?

The fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) is a common species of salamander found in Europe. It is black with yellow spots or stripes to a varying degree. Shades of red and orange may sometimes appear, either replacing or mixing with the yellow. This bright coloration acts to deter predators by signalling its toxicity (aposematism).

The diet consists of various insects, spiders, worms and slugs, but they also eat newts and young frogs. Small prey is caught within the vomerine teeth range or by the posterior half of the tongue.

Fire salamanders have an extremely long lifespan. One specimen lived over 50 years in a German museum. They live in forests of central Europe and are more common in hilly areas.

There are 13 subspecies, 2 are viviparous while the rest are ovoviviparous.

Some fascinating facts:

1. Their skin secretes a toxic substance called samandarin that attacks the nervous system. This deters predators.

2. An old legend says they can tolerate fire as they were seen crawling from burning logs. Their venom allows this.

3. Females grow larger than males, sometimes twice the size.

4. They are nocturnal and search for slugs after rain.

5. As adults, they have few predators due to their venom. Occasionally a snake or bird eats one but likely won’t repeat that mistake.

In essence, the fire salamander captivates interest with its vivid colors, behaviors, and ability to withstand extreme temperatures. Understanding its habitat, reproduction and resilience allows us to appreciate its beauty.

Can you have a fire salamander as a pet?

Owning a fire salamander can be unique and rewarding. However, it requires careful consideration, responsible ownership, and a commitment to providing the specific habitat and care they need. If you’re captivated by their beauty and charm, taking the necessary steps to ensure their well-being will result in a successful partnership between you and your fire salamander.

Fire salamanders do best with a daytime temperature between 60°F (16°C) and 68°F (20°C). During the night temperature can fall below 55°F (13°C). They are not tolerant of temperatures above 70°F (21°C).

Their skin produces toxic alkaloids that can cause intoxication and death of an animal after contact or ingestion. Despite spending time on forest floors, fire salamanders benefit from a low-level UVB source, providing a UVI between 1-2.

Sizes vary between species, but individuals can be 5 to 12 inches long. They may easily attain 10 years under the care of most keepers.

The fire salamander is black with yellow spots or stripes. Some can be nearly completely black while on others yellow is dominant. They are simple to keep, hardy eaters and ready breeders. Some races also tame relatively well.

They are highly inquisitive and lively but nocturnal, so are more often seen exploring their tank in the evening and at night. A lid is not essential for adults but is still recommended to retain humidity and because youngsters climb better. It will also prevent pets from biting them.

Is a frilled shark extinct?