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

 

Probably no different than a fisherman mistakenly killing a dolphin that was caught in the net.

Looks like an eel.

Probably no different than a fisherman mistakenly killing a dolphin that was caught in the net.

 

Very true. :thumb:

So this is what they would look like if down in water. Like others have said, not sure where it got the "shark" part of it's name.

 

So this is what they would look like if down in water. Like others have said, not sure where it got the "shark" part of it's name.

 

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I'll handle this one. I had to do an in-depth report on an animal when I was in the 4th grade, and I was lucky enough to be the one in the class who drew "sharks" as my animal...so from my spotty memory of one of the greatest homework assignments I ever had:

 

1) Unlike most vertebrates, sharks (along with skates and rays) don't have bones. Instead they have a skeleton made of cartilage. This is a defining feature when it comes to "Is it a shark or a fish?"

2) Sharks have very specific skin. It's made up of tiny linked placoid scales, which differ from the various types of scales on other fish. Placoid scales only occur on sharks, skates and rays, and are another defining difference.

3) Sharks breathe through ram ventilation - they have to continue swimming in order to push air through their gill slits. They can't flap their gills and force water through like most fish can. Another defining difference.

4) Sharks sink. Most fish have air bladders inside of them that keep them buoyant in water, whereas sharks have to swim continually to keel from sinking. Another defining difference.

 

There are a few other points, if I recall, but those four are the biggest and most defining differences that would establish whether or not something is a shark or a carnivorous fish.