From critters that glow in the dark … to sharks with wicked alien jaws … here are 18 of the strangest shark species
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#8 False Catshark
With more than 270 species, ground sharks represent the largest order of the creatures. And that includes the False Catshark, which is the only member of its genus. Even though they are distributed worldwide, this species is rarely spotted, since they favor depths of 5000 feet or so. The most recent sighting occurred in the Outer Hebrides (HEHbrihdeez) of Scotland in 2015 … only the second time such a specimen had been located in the area. They can grow to nearly 10 feet long and weigh more than 275 pounds, but are slow moving predators and scavengers. Did you know that its liver accounts for nearly a quarter of its weight? That organ is filled with oil, and allow the shark to maintain enough buoyancy to hover above the ocean floor.
#7 Basking Shark
Next to the whale shark, this is the largest living fish … they can reach up to 26 feet long. But the largest verified specimen was caught in Canada in the mid19th century … it measured more than 40 feet long and weighed an estimated 21 tons! On average, they weigh up to 6 tons. The slow moving animals are notable for their distinctive mouths, which are huge enough to open more than 3 feet wide to feed on plankton. They have a habit of of feeding at the surface, where it looks like they’re basking in the water hence the name.
#6 Cookie Cutter Shark
Also called the Cigar Shark due to its size, these critters are only about 22 inches (56 cm) long … but they’ve been recorded more than 2 miles deep. And while small, they have the largest teeth relative to its size. Those choppers resemble a band saw, and can chew out round plugs of flesh from its prey. The wounds look as if they were caused by a cookie cutter. In addition to the teeth, this is a bioluminescent critter. Experts tell us that its green luminescence is the most powerful of any shark species.
#5 Sawshark
Pretty easy to see what inspired the name of this shark. It’s identified by the long rostrum (or snout) which is edged with sharp teeth used to slash and kill their prey. They’re most commonly found from the Indian Ocean to waters of the southern Pacific Ocean … but they can be found worldwide. And there are many of them to be found, with 9 species documented. They include the Longnose and Shortnose Sawshark, and the Sixgill variety, which is identified by the six gills found on the sides of its head. Did you know that along with the Sawfish, these two animals are the only ones that have a long, bladelike snout. But the biggest difference between the two is that Sawfish are not sharks … they’re actually a type of ray.
#4 Viper Shark
It’s a rare species of dogfish shark which has been reported mostly in the Pacific Ocean, from Hawaii to Japan. Smallish by shark standards, this critter is black and slender, measuring about 21 inches long. Along with lightemitting photophores on its ventral surface, this fearsome looking fish has fang like teeth well spaced within a narrow, triangular jaw. When feeding, this animal will extend its jaws to swallow its prey … it can consume fish that are nearly half as long as itself. Experts say the first specimens were documented in 1986.
#3 Two headed sharks
These strange creatures have been showing up in waters around the world at an unprecedented rate. And experts still don't have a clearcut reason as to why. They first started appearing in 2008 off the Australian coast. Scientists speculate that causes for the mutations might be linked to viral infections, pollution, or overfishing. As shark populations are thinned out, the gene pool contracts, which increases the chance of inbreeding … and that bring along a higher risk of genetic abnormalities being passed along. A scifi/horror movie about two headed sharks called “2Headed Shark Attack” was released in 2010 … but this might be a case of truth being stranger than fiction!
#2 Goblin Shark
This rare species of deep sea shark has been with us for a long time … its lineage can be traced back some 125 million years, leading some sources to qualify it as a ‘living fossil’. They can grow up to 13 feet long, with the largest specimens weighing more than 450 pounds. It’s one of the most distinctive looking sea creatures, with a long, distinctive snout. But it’s likely more famous (or infamous) for its bizarre protrusible jaws, which can pop out about the length of its snout. When the jaws suddenly snap forward, they impale prey with jagged, naillike teeth. Because they tend to favor depths exceeding 4,000 feet, these goblins are not encountered that often. Did you know this critter is also called the ‘elfin shark’? Goblin seems like a better fit.