https://www.geek.com/news/bizarre-shark-older-than-most-dinosaurs-spotted-on-deep-sea-dive-1794881/?source

Researchers recently captured footage of the strange bluntnose sixgill shark on a deep-sea submarine exploration and it is a jaw-dropping sight.

According to a team from OceanX, an ocean exploration initiative, and Florida State University, the bluntnose sixgill shark is an ancient species that is older than most dinosaurs and is a main deep-sea ecosystem predator. While the team recorded video of the mysterious creature in the Bahamas, they were also able to tag it from a submarine for the first time, Fox News reported. OceanX shared a video of the cool moment on Facebook, which has received more than 31,000 views.

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“Because bluntnose sixgills are a deep sea species, it’s hard on them physiologically to be tagged in this way. In their typical life cycle, they won’t experience daylight, and very rarely will they feel the low pressure, warmer temperatures of surface waters,” OceanX wrote in a blog post. “Typically, the data obtained after surface tagging of a six gill is believed to be skewed, as the shark does not return to its natural behaviors for some time after the tagging.”

Filming and tagging this rare ocean animal wasn’t an easy task. Two previous attempts to tag a bluntnose sixgill shark didn’t work out, however, OceanX was determined to make it happen on the third try. There were a couple of mishaps during the third attempt, however, the fourth night was successful after the team tagged a large male bluntnose sixgill shark underwater.

Next, the team plans to study the bluntnose sixgill shark’s behavior and movement patterns once data is collected from the animal.

More on Geek.com:

• Watch: Shark Swallowed Whole During Underwater Feeding Frenzy
• DNA From Shark Tooth Solves Shark Bite Mystery, 25 Years Later
• Watch: Drone Captures Shark ‘Stalking’ Surfers at Australian Beach

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