Ancient Frilled Shark: A Living Fossil Roaming Oceans Since Dinosaur Era

• The frilled shark, Chlamydoselachus anguineus, is a deep-sea species with ancient anatomy, offering insights into early shark evolution and survival.
• Sharks appeared over 420 million years ago, predating trees and dinosaurs, with the frilled shark belonging to a lineage that diverged 115 million years ago.
• Its elongated, snake-like body, six gill slits, and over 300 needle-like teeth are adaptations for deep-sea living and gripping slippery prey.
• The frilled shark has the longest known gestation period among fishes, lasting up to three and a half years, a trait suited for deep-sea conditions.
• Despite surviving mass extinctions, the species now faces threats from deep-sea fishing and bycatch, with slow reproduction making recovery difficult.

Why It Matters: The frilled shark is a living fossil providing a unique window into ancient marine life and evolution.