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SharksFrill Shark
Frill Shark
Common name: Frill shark
Scientific name: Chlamydoselachus anguineus
Description
 Frilled
sharks are bottom dwellers and may contribute to removing
decomposing carcasses. This carrion floats down from the open
waters of the ocean above and comes to rest on the ocean floor.Today,
frilled sharks are the only living species in the family Chlamydoselachidae(Sheikh-Miller,
2001).
Range & Habitat
Frill
Sharks
have been found almost worldwide, including the eastern Atlantic
coast of northern Norway, the western Indian
Ocean near South Africa, the western Pacific
near New Zealand, and the eastern Pacific near the
coast of Chile.
Chlamydoselachus anguineus, is found on continental
shelves and the nearshore areas of large islands, although
they are occasionally reported in open waters. They are mostly
benthic and occur at depths from 100 to 1,300 meters.
Food
Because
of their sharp, cuspidate teeth, it is thought that their
primary foods are small deep-water fishes, and squid. Because
frilled sharks live on the ocean floor, they may also feed
on carrion floating down from the surface.
Nature & Reproduction
Nature:
Frilled
sharks have a long slender body with an elongate tail fin,
giving them an eel-like appearance (Compagno, 1984). The body
tends to be a chocolate brown color. They have a small dorsal
fin located well towards the tail, above the large anal fin,
and in front of the highly asymmetric caudal fin. The pectoral
fins are short and rounded.
Reproduction:
These
sharks have the ability to breed all year.Fertilization in
all sharks is internal, taking place in the egg tubes or oviducts
of the female. Male sharks must grab females, maneuver their
bodies so that he can introduce his claspers to pass sperm
into the vent. Males and females come together only to mate.Females
apparently reproduce all year long and have a gestation period
of about one to two years.
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