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Registered: October 28, 2005
Posts: 5354
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This is so cool. quote: Rare ‘living fossil’ shark filmed
‘Living fossil’ species has changed little since prehistoric times
Reuters
Updated: 6:33 a.m. PT 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.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16785254/?GT1=8921I am trying to find a copy of the video. I will post it when I do.
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Registered: February 22, 2004
Posts: 13984
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well again it's very difficult because the things are so rare that we know next to nothing about them from a physiologic standpoint now we do know that Sperm Whales hunt them and use high power sonar to stun them (the squid) so perhaps something could have been done with that but the specimen was there and the professors at AMP likely saw the chance of a life time (which it was most likely, there is no known human machine which can capture a giant squid at it's own depth... at least none I can think of) and moved for it. The good news here is that with the squids body the Profs at AMP can disect and study the squids in a post-mortem state so we can understand them better which should make safe capture a possability in the future
"The very existence of flamethrowers proves that sometime, somewhere, someone said to themselves, "You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done"."
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Registered: February 19, 2007
Posts: 14
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You make a good point. However, they still shouldn't be so careless. They exectly where to find the squid now, so they should have taken more time to devise a less harmful capture.
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Registered: February 22, 2004
Posts: 13984
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quote: caught a giant squid in the same area(one of the four species I mentioned). However, it died from "complications" during capture
well it is extremely difficult to bring in a pissed off squid this size of a small yacht (it's called "giant" with good reason) with out complications especially because no one has ever managed to bring one in alive before. Because of that we don't know what sedatives are dangerous to them or effective on them and in what dosages which is what I would assume happened. Either that or the poor thing thrashed it self to death attempting to escape... which comes nicely full circle back to the sedative problem Also the Japanese as an Island nation that has for centuries been a fishing culture likely has a very deep respect for marine life and the ecosystem that balances it. Remember it's how these people survived for centuries. Man cannot live on rice alone. Other wise welcome to YN
"The very existence of flamethrowers proves that sometime, somewhere, someone said to themselves, "You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done"."
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Registered: January 16, 2003
Posts: 12687
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quote: Oh and thanks for the welcome mat.
No problem.
"In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act." - George Orwell
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Registered: February 19, 2007
Posts: 14
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quote: Originally posted by clpo13:
Many rare species, such as the frilled shark, can only survive deep in the ocean. When they come up closer to the surface, they're usually already dying. And if they're brought up by researchers, the change in depth will cause them to die anyways, but that is usually something not known until they're caught. Some species of marine life can survive equally well in the deep ocean or near the surface, while some can only survive at great depths.
I already knew this, but did you know that their fisher's net can go to a depth of 650 ft. Thats just about where the shark likes to hunt for squid. Speaking of squid, japan caught a giant squid in the same area(one of the four species I mentioned). However, it died from "complications" during capture. Japan obviously has a blatent disregaurd for the marine life and ecosystem. Oh and thanks for the welcome mat.
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Registered: January 16, 2003
Posts: 12687
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Oh how sad. 
"In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act." - George Orwell
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Registered: November 05, 2004
Posts: 6100
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Many rare species, such as the frilled shark, can only survive deep in the ocean. When they come up closer to the surface, they're usually already dying. And if they're brought up by researchers, the change in depth will cause them to die anyways, but that is usually something not known until they're caught. Some species of marine life can survive equally well in the deep ocean or near the surface, while some can only survive at great depths.
The more you know, the less you don't know.
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Registered: January 16, 2003
Posts: 12687
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quote: The Japan Marine Park has caught 4 rare species in the past year and they all coincedently mysteriously died, how's that for news!?!
Really? Well that sounds...suspicious. By the way, welcome to YN EnvironmentMarck. 
"In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act." - George Orwell
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Registered: February 19, 2007
Posts: 14
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The Japan Marine Park has caught 4 rare species in the past year and they all coincedently mysteriously died, how's that for news!?!
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Registered: January 16, 2004
Posts: 4015
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I wish I heard more about it. I'm surprised the Academy of Natural Sciences hasn't been buzzing. Normally, if there is any zoological discovery, I hear nothing but that for weeks.
L'enfer, c'est les autres. -Jean-Paul Sartre
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Registered: October 28, 2005
Posts: 5354
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quote: By the way LTR, I saw that video on the news today. It seems to be pretty big news
This is HUGE news!
draft beer not soldiers...
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Registered: January 16, 2003
Posts: 12687
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Thanks Finn. I was aware of the numerous rows, but I wasn't sure on the number. By the way LTR, I saw that video on the news today. It seems to be pretty big news.
"In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act." - George Orwell
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Registered: January 16, 2004
Posts: 4015
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The number of teeth a shark has varies with the species, but I think most have hundreds, in several rows. They fall out easily and are constantly being replaced. And yes. Ultimate ichthy-coolness.
L'enfer, c'est les autres. -Jean-Paul Sartre
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Registered: January 09, 2007
Posts: 57
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That is one crazy looking fish. I love sea life. This is great. To bad it died though.
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Registered: January 16, 2003
Posts: 12687
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quote: It looks so cool.
That, it does. By the way, how many teeth do sharks actually have? Anyone know?
"In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act." - George Orwell
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Registered: October 28, 2005
Posts: 5354
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Yes it does. It looks so cool.
draft beer not soldiers...
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Registered: January 16, 2003
Posts: 12687
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I saw the video. That's a really long shark...well in terms of it's tail. It looks kind of like an eel. Don't you think?
"In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act." - George Orwell
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Registered: October 28, 2005
Posts: 5354
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I found a video of it on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWiC6h_LfwYHowever it's in Japanese. Both the Yahoo and MSN video's of it weren't working. So I will post another video if I can find on in English.
draft beer not soldiers...
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