A fishing trawler off southern Australia pulled a gruesome-looking creature out of the water from 700 meters deep near Lakes Entrance in Victoria.
The 2-meter-long sea serpent is actually a frilled shark, according to Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
Simon Boag, chief executive of the South East Trawl Fishing Industry Association (SETFIA), told the ABC that this was the first time humans have captured the species alive.
The frilled shark is one of two surviving species that haven’t changed in 80 million years. Its common name comes from the frilly appearance of its six pairs of gill slits. It has an eel-shaped body with dorsal and pelvic fins and anal fins placed far back.
The prehistoric creature’s mouth contains 300 teeth in 25 rows, good for keeping its prey from escaping its jaws.
This one was netted in 700 meters of water, but the living fossil is usually found in 1,500 meters of water or deeper.
According to the ABC, the CSIRO declined the specimen, and the frilled shark has now been sold by the fishermen.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to TomoNews, where we animate the most entertaining news on the internets. Come here for an animated look at viral headlines, US news, celebrity gossip, salacious scandals, dumb criminals and much more! Subscribe now for daily news animations that will knock your socks off.
For news that's fun and never boring, visit our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/TomoNewsUS
Subscribe to stay updated on all the top stories:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt-WqkTyKK1_70U4bb4k4lQ?sub_confirmation=1
Visit our official website for all the latest, uncensored videos: http://us.tomonews.net
Check out our Android app: http://bit.ly/1rddhCj
Check out our iOS app: http://bit.ly/1gO3z1f
Stay connected with us here:
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/TomoNewsUS
Twitter @tomonewsus http://www.twitter.com/TomoNewsUS
Google+ http://plus.google.com/+TomoNewsUS/
Instagram @tomonewsus http://instagram.com/tomonewsus