How cool was the news yesterday? A poorly frilled shark was caught in Japan and put in the Awashima Marine Park. Here's what it looked like (it died): .
From my quick googling and skimming through a couple of textbooks:
- deep water (1000m down)
- eats giant squid and deep sea fish
- scattered throughout most of the worlds oceans (doesn't seem that rare, just unusual)
- might have a gestation period of 3.5 years (crickey!)
- ooh it might be the source of 'sea serpent' myths, although as its short (max 6m) and doesn't come to the surface that seems unlikely
It's an interesting animal, rather than living fossil it would be better to say its an extant (alive) example of an archaic shark lineage. Think about it, these animals have been evolving for around 300 million years, so unless its identical to a sample 300 MYA how can it be a living fossil. And from a pedants viewpoint, the DNA is not going to be identical. Actually a pedant would point out we can't test that :-)
You want more? Who the hell are you, Oliver Twist?
http://www.elasmo-research.org/education/shark_profiles/chlamydoselachiformes.htm
http://www.sharkattacks.com/prehistoric.htm
B
2 comments:
...........And from a pedants viewpoint, the DNA is not going to be identical. Actually a pedant would point out we can't test that :-)...........
... You read my mind :) That was exactly what I was going to say! And thanks for the extra links too, they are the perfect accompaniment to my morning coffee.... Lovely Jubbly... :)
Mmm coffee. I have none. This saddens me.
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