The Frilled Shark: Ancient Predator That Survived the Dinosaurs

In the deep ocean, where food is scarce and the environment is harsh, the frilled shark has survived by abandoning the typical predatory path of speed and power. While other sharks evolved into fast pursuit hunters, this species focused on energy conservation, a strategy that has allowed it to persist for roughly 150 million years. The shark resembles a cross between an eel and a snake, reaching up to two meters in length. Its most striking feature is the series of skin folds around the gill slits, which form a collar or "frill" that fluctuates in the current. This anatomy makes it a biological rarity, as its skeletal structure and gill arrangement remain largely unchanged since the Mesozoic era. The feeding mechanism of the frilled shark is specialized for the deep-sea environment. Its jaws are lined with up to 300 trident-shaped teeth. These teeth are angled inward, acting as a one-way trap; once a slippery prey item enters the mouth, the inward-pointing crowns prevent it from escaping. According to Mikhail Kravtsov, a pet care specialist, this structure ensures that prey is locked in place immediately upon contact.