From sharks that glow in the dark, to sharks with two heads, These are 14 of the rarest sharks in the World !\r
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Pyjama Shark\r
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Energizer Bunny Shark\r
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Cookie Cutter Shark \r
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Thresher Shark\r
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Zebra Shark\r
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Megamouth Shark\r
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Hybrid Sharks\r
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Greenland Shark\r
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Frilled Shark\r
This critter is found across the globe .. but since it usually lived at depths around 4,200 feet, theyre not often seen … which is one reason why it spotted in the wild until 2004. The eel-like animals date back around some 80 million years … and have changed so little over time that theyre often referred to as living fossils. They can grow over 6.5 feet long and can strike at prey with a snakelike motion. And when they strikes, they do so with a mouth filled with 300 sharp teeth shaped like tridents that face backward. Did you know the critter is named for its six pairs of gill slits, which have a frilled appearance? \r
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Pocket Shark\r
Sharks usually bright up images of ferocious, man eating monsters … but a shark caught off the Gulf of Mexico was more adorable than aggressive. The extremely rare species only measures about 5.5 inches long and weighs about half an ounce! The male specimen was just the second of its kind ever caught … the first such creature was found in 1936 in the Pacific Ocean. This one was ually caught in new … then spent years on ice -- literally -- until researchers could formally identify it. The Pocket shark isnt named for its small size … the creature has two pockets located near it front fins … but researchers still dont know what purpose they might serve.\r
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Glowing Sharks\r
Did you know that sharks could glow? Researchers have found that catsharks and swell sharks have biofluorescent abilities … that is, they can absorb light and then re-emit it at a different color or wavelength. In the case of these sharks, they begin to glow bright green as they descend deeper into the waters! Amazing patterns on the animals skin became more pronounced the deeper they dived. Experts think the ability enables the sharks to communicate with each other at greater depths.\r
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Goblin Shark\r
This critter has always seemed to be a favorite on Deep Sea Sunday. The goblin shark is identified by its long, flat snout and pink skin … But it might be best known for its powerful jaws, which can literally pop out of its mouth and catch prey with its razor sharp teeth -- the image usually evokes the Xenomorph from the Alien s. These deep sea animals have been around for a long time. Did you know its the last remaining member of a family that stretches back around 125 million years? They tend to remain mysterious creatures since they favor freezing waters and depths exceeding 4,000 feet.\r
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False Catshark\r
Heres another species of shark that favors depths of close to 5,000 feet …so its rarely seen. Such was the case in new when one of the creatures was found in the Outer Hebrides (heh-brih-deez) of Scotland near the Isle of Barra … that was only the second time a false catshark was found in the region. The animals can grow to nearly 10 feet long, but this specimen went about 6 feet and weighed 132 pounds. The fishermen who caught the animal thought it resembled a large, unused sofa … but instead of using it as such, they released it back to the water after measuring and weighing it. A good thing, since the false catshark is the only member of its genus (JEE-nus)!\r
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1.Two Headed Sharks\r
These critters seem to be popping up at an unprecedented rate in waters around the world … and its left experts baffled as to exly why. The creatures first started appearing in 2008 … thats when the embryo of a blue shark with two heads was found off the Australian coast. In new, fishermen in Florida found a two headed fetus in the uterus of a bull shark. More recently, a two-headed Atlantic sawtail catfish embryo was discovered in a Spanish lab by researchers there. It was the first example of a two headed shark that was born by an oviparous (oh-VIP-er-us) species of shark -- or, one that lays eggs! Experts say such creatures wouldnt live long in the wild … which could explain why no such egg laying sharks have been found so far. 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 contrs, which increases the chance of inbreeding … and that brings along the higher risk of passing along genetic abnormalities.
