Japan marine park captures rare shark on film

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16785254/?GT1=8921

Japan marine park captures rare shark on film
‘Living fossil’ species has changed little since prehistoric times

Updated: 9:33 a.m. ET Jan 24, 2007
TOKYO - A species of shark rarely seen alive because its natural habitat is 2,000 feet or more under the sea was captured on film by staff at a Japanese marine park this week.

The Awashima Marine Park in Shizuoka, south of Tokyo, was alerted by a fisherman at a nearby port on Sunday that he had spotted an odd-looking eel-like creature with a mouthful of needle-sharp teeth.

Marine park staff caught the 5-foot long creature, which they identified as a female frilled shark, sometimes referred to as a “living fossil” because it is a primitive species that has changed little since prehistoric times.

The shark appeared to be in poor condition when park staff moved it to a seawater pool where they filmed it swimming and opening its jaws.

“We believe moving pictures of a live specimen are extremely rare,” said an official at the park. “They live between 600 and 1,000 meters under the water, which is deeper than humans can go.”

“We think it may have come close to the surface because it was sick, or else it was weakened because it was in shallow waters,” the official said.

The shark died a few hours after being caught.

Frilled sharks, which feed on other sharks and sea creatures, are sometimes caught in the nets of trawlers but are rarely seen alive.

Cool. But the thing is ugly as ****!

yeah

When I heard that it died in captivity, I was like, "Not a smart move, guys. Not a smart move at all."

Well, at least we now know of another animal that's not extinct that we thought was. That thing's ugly as heck, though. hmm And it moves in such a strange way...

It's gay as hell that they took that thing out of it's natural habitat but I say it's an eel species, not a shark.

man, i am a huge shark fan. to capture them and confine them to marine parks is just cruel.

Originally posted by Yuna_And_Tidus
It's gay as hell that they took that thing out of it's natural habitat but I say it's an eel species, not a shark.

Wasn't it forced out of its deep-sea home by a warm water current, which is how they found it? Then it was removed.

all these idiots who go diving and/or surfing, when they are attacked by a shark, are like "why'd the shark attack me? i wasnt bothering it."

you were in the sharks backyard, brainiac. of course its gonna attack. not all the time, but if it happens, dont be surprised, dummy.

Originally posted by Rogue Jedi
all these idiots who go diving and/or surfing, when they are attacked by a shark, are like "why'd the shark attack me? i wasnt bothering it."

you were in the sharks backyard, brainiac. of course its gonna attack. not all the time, but if it happens, dont be surprised, dummy.

? ? ?

i am defending sharks, saying it is wrong to capture them for our own selfish gain. i am also saying that when someone is attacked by a shark, i have no sympathy for them.

If I was a scuba diver and that shark was coming at me...I would freeze in panic.

Zombies, Killing plants, Feminazis aren't as scary as sharks under water.

exactly. if a shark attacks you, you are toast.

It's global warming I tell ya. The shark was confused by the warming waters...

hysterical

still, why capture him? catch and release him into open waters, i say.

Originally posted by WrathfulDwarf
If I was a scuba diver and that shark was coming at me...I would freeze in panic.

Zombies, Killing plants, Feminazis aren't as scary as sharks under water.

Feminazis? I dunno, they're pretty scary.

Originally posted by Council#13
Wasn't it forced out of its deep-sea home by a warm water current, which is how they found it? Then it was removed.

Originally posted by Rogue Jedi
exactly. if a shark attacks you, you are toast.

That shark looked like a shark zombie, so I think it wins out against feminazis.

Originally posted by Yuna_And_Tidus
I don't know, either way, they could've done something different.

Not necessarily. Most sharks that attack you think you're a seal or some other type of prey, and after they take the first bite and realise you're not what they thought you were, they let go. It's not that way ALL the time, but most of the time it is. Most shark attacks are not fatal.

Originally posted by Rogue Jedi
i am defending sharks, saying it is wrong to capture them for our own selfish gain. i am also saying that when someone is attacked by a shark, i have no sympathy for them.

You can blame people for killing or capturing sharks, but you can't blame a person for being attacked by a shark. 😬 What're they supposed to do, be less meaty when they enter the water?

Originally posted by Yuna_And_Tidus
I don't know, either way, they could've done something different.

Poked it back down to the depths. 😂

Anyway, I say we build metal fences around the natural habitats of animals! woot We're not taking them out of their natural habitats, but we sure as hell make sure they don't escape! 😱

But seriously, anyone who goes scubba diving should know the risks that they take, especially if it's in shark infested waters. There should be certain areas where the sharks are protected and people shouldn't go. Of course, the sharks move away, so anyone who ends up being bitten by a shark most likely wouldn't have been bothering the shark or been invading it's personal space. I forget what I'm trying to say here.

Was cool to see that something like that is still alive, altho seeing as it died, it might be extinct now.