Rare Shark Filmed, 'Living Fossil'

A species of shark rarely seen alive because its natural habitat is about 2,000 feet under the sea was captured on film by staff at a Japanese marine park this week. (…)

Marine park staff caught the 5 foot (1.6 meter) 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. (…)

“We believe moving pictures of a live specimen are extremely rare,” said an official at the park. “They live between 1,968 and 3,280 feet (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.

The Japanese are on a roll.

ARTICLE/VIDEO/IMAGES [“Rare shark captured on film”] (CNN)