Frilled Shark - A mythical sea creature has been caught in waters just off southeastern Victoria by a trawler this past month.
The frilled shark, which has the body of an eel and the tail of a shark, also has over 300 needle-like teeth lined up in more than 25 rows. It was caught near Lakes Entrance in Gippsland.
David Gulliot, who caught the rarely sighted frilled shark, shared his experience with a local radio station. "I've been at sea for 30 years and I've never seen a shark look like that," he said."It was quite horrific looking...It was quite scary actually."
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Organisation (CSIRO) have confirmed that the bizarre creature is indeed a frilled shark. But the organization reportedly refused to take the body of the animal.
Frilled sharks are known to live at 1,200 meters in relatively shallow waters. Nonetheless, frilled sharks have been caught about 1,500 meters deep. This frilled shark was reportedly caught at 700 meters. It is unclear why the animal ventured out of the depths.
Nonetheless, local fishing officials have assured the public that all waters deeper than 700 meters are closed to trawling.
Simon Boag of the South East Trawl Fishing Association said the frilled shark caught by Gulliot was just "unlucky."
"We couldn't find a fisherman who had ever seen one before," he said."It does look 80 million years old, it looks like it's from another time!"
Frilled sharks are thought to be closely related to the mythological sea serpents. They are usually caught in small numbers by commercial trawlers. Although they are consumed in some parts of the world, frilled sharks are generally considered a nuisance to fishermen.
The body of the frilled shark caught has reportedly been sold.
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