![]() Averaging 300 pin-sharp teeth and a hinged jaw, frilled sharks are believed to quickly lunge for their prey-devouring deep sea fish and squid half their size-whole. Their strange characteristics are more reminiscent of a snake than shark. During that time, these fish have changed very little.įrilled sharks were dubbed so due to their six gills that appear “fluffy,” and although they are considered cousins of great whites and hammerhead sharks, their relation could not be more distant. 80 million years old-Frilled shark iįound in the dark abyss of the deep sea, frilled sharks have been lurking in the shadows for approximately 80 million years. As our ocean continues to warm due to climate change, the pygmy right whale’s time on Earth may be in jeopardy. ![]() Just as the fossil evidence from Italy and Japan suggests, these whales are not made for warmer waters. Regardless of their exact lineage, the pygmy right whale is again at risk. Others still argue whether or not the whale is a descendant of a family called cetotheres-a group that existed 23 million years ago. With a recent discovery of pygmy right whale fossils in Japan and Italy, researchers suggest that the whale emerged from the baleen whale family between 17 and 25 million years ago. Besides their small size, they are characterized by an arched, frowning snout. They live in the open ocean and are generally believed to be confined to the Southern Hemisphere’s cool waters. ![]() What we do know about pygmy right whales is that they are considered one of the smallest whales, measuring up to around 21 feet in length. Thanks for signing up for Ocean Conservancy emails. ![]()
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