Deep-sea scientists were cruising through the Phoenix Islands protected area when they caught a bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus) on camera.
“We asked everybody yesterday what they most wanted to see and there was almost a chorus of the word ‘shark’ all at the same time, said one of the Schmidt Ocean Institute researchers in the video. “Here you go guys.”
As its name suggests, this species of shark (also known as a cow shark) is unusual for having more gills than most other species.
“The vast majority of sharks in the ocean have only five gill slits on each side of their body," says NOAA Fisheries on its website.
"There are only six known living species of sharks with more gills, most of which belong to an ancient family of sharks known as cow sharks — the bluntnose sixgill, bigeye sixgill, bluntnose sevengill and sharpnose sevengill.
"The other two species of sharks with six gill slits are frilled sharks.”
Image and video credit: Schmidt Ocean Institute
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