Hi Steemit family!

Today we will be dealing with one of the most interesting cases I have seen on the net about the appearance of a species that seems to have been taken from the time of the dinosaurs. It is incredible the number of species that have survived the different changes that the planet and more amazing is the number of species that have disappeared even more recently. Let's say about 100 years until today, the uncontrolled growth of cities and massification of technologies harmful to the environment have made a total chaos and hundreds of species have disappeared and others are about to do so.

source

Its appearance, similar to that of a snake, gives it a frightening appearance. There is little data on the eel shark, an endangered species that was surprisingly found and caught last August in the waters of the Algarve (Portugal).

According to the Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), it was a male of the species Chlamydoselachus anguineus, with a length of 1.5 meters. The most striking feature of this shark is a head reminiscent of a snake.

It is considered a true 'living fossil' because since prehistoric times it has barely evolved. In fact, fossils have been found that show that they were present in the planet's seas 80 million years ago.

source

In addition, this shark has a very particular dentition (more than 300 teeth that look like needles). The specimen was captured at a depth of 700 meters; however, they can inhabit depths exceeding 1,000 meters.

It is a natural predator of squid and a great variety of fish (including other sharks). Its capture can help researchers learn more about the eel shark, as its biology and ecology remain a mystery.

source

The dreaded eel shark

Sharks are animals feared for their fierceness and cunning. But if there is one shark that lives up to these attributes, it is the Anguilla Shark or Chlamydoselachus anguineus, possibly the most prehistoric shark species still alive today.

This living fossil presents characteristics that make scientists think that it has only evolved in its approximately 50 million years of existence. Among these characteristics, it is worth mentioning that it does not have a spinal column but a notochord (prior to the appearance of the spinal column in evolution) formed by cartilaginous segments. We also highlight the presence of sixgills instead of the five that have the most evolved sharks today.

source

What the eel shark looks like

But the most impressive thing is his mouth, which is armed with small teeth oriented into the mouth and ending in three points each, ie each tooth is like a small trident.

To this terrifying characteristic, the eel shark must be added that it has about 300 teeth arranged in about 25 rows, so we have a deadly mouth from which even a slippery squid would have a hard time escaping.

Eel sharks also have a trait very typical of deep-sea predators. Green eyes that allow you to see better in the dark and detect more easily any small flash of bioluminescence that indicates the presence of a possible prey.

The characteristic elongated body of this animal can measure up to two meters in length. Its main diet is based on squid and small fish, but in their habitat food is scarce so when you have the opportunity to eat not miss my big that is the prey, being able to swallow prey up to half its size.

source

Where eel sharks live

It is a rare species with a wide but discontinuous distribution in cold and temperate waters of the Atlantic and Pacific, between 500 and 2000 meters deep, although it is believed that at night it rises to the surface to feed and at dawn returns to the depths.

In Spain, specifically in Galicia, they tend to appear from time to time in trawl nets, which makes scientists think that, although this is a rare species, it seems likely that in our waters there is a stable population of eel sharks, the size and extent of which we do not yet know.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) considers the eel shark as an almost endangered species because its reproduction rate is very low and they tend to be habitual victims in fishing nets.

source

Thank you for reading! 😊

Don't miss the last articles of the Amazing Nature section

. Amazing nature #23 - The remarkable self-organization of ants

. Amazing nature #22 - All you need to know about the Anteater

. Amazing nature #21 - The 5 largest whales in the world

. Amazing nature #20 - Amazing facts about dolphin intelligence

. Amazing nature #19 - Cases of "mutualism" in the animal kingdom

If you liked reading this article, feel free to FOLLOW ME, UPVOTE and RESTEEM! It's always appreciated =D. Thank you all for your support and see you soon for the news flamingirl's adventures!