The species, whose ancestry dates back 80 million years, is known as the 'living fossil'.

 

It was caught on a fishing trawler in waters near Lakes Entrance in the state's Gippsland region.

 

Simon Boag, from the South East Trawl Fishing Association, said it was the first time in living memory that a frilled shark had been sighted.

 

"We couldn't find a fisherman who had ever seen one before," he said.

 

"It does look 80 million years old. It looks prehistoric, it looks like it's from another time!"

 

He said local fishermen were left scratching their heads at the sight of the two-metre-long creature, whose head and body resemble an eel, but whose tail is more reminiscent of a shark.

 

The CSIRO confirmed it to be a frilled shark, and while the species is known to the scientific community, it was a nonetheless rare and bizarre find for local fishermen.

 

 

 

Rare and terrifying frilled shark catch in Victorian waters the first for fishermen in local living memory - ABC Rural (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Is that lipstick on a shark?

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Rare and terrifying frilled shark catch in Victorian waters the first for fishermen in local living memory - ABC Rural (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

 

That's clearly a shrieking eel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfo3nEZHNLk

It was sold? If the thing is so rare, how can they not return it to the water?

It was sold? If the thing is so rare, how can they not return it to the water?

 

Because they killed it.

Because they killed it.

 

Right, and my question is why? Why would you kill something that's that rare?

Right, and my question is why? Why would you kill something that's that rare?

 

It was caught by a trawler. Most of the fish caught in trawler nets drown and are already dead by the time they are brought up to the boat.

 

Wait. A fish can drown?

Wait. A fish can drown?

 

You betcha.

Wait. A fish can drown?

Fish have to process water through their gills to survive. If they get trapped where they can't do that, they drown.

Wow I never knew a fish could drown, you learn something new every day.

Wow I never knew a fish could drown, you learn something new every day.

 

I suppose the proper word for it would be "suffocate".

I knew they could die in dirty water in the fish bowl (yes, I have had to bury my share of fish) but had no idea it could happen in the ocean.

Right, and my question is why? Why would you kill something that's that rare?

 

If I saw that thing I would kill it with fire immediately.