Shark Dating Back 80 Million Years Found Off The Coast Of Portugal

Some people are at one with the ocean. The mysterious peril that befalls sailors, divers, surfers and other aqua inclined folk doesn't seem to be off putting, but rather more enthralling.

The thought of there being a deep void of nothingness, paired with the dangerous beasts that litter Earth's waters is just another reason to love it, as is the unpredictable nature of the water.

It does mean that now and again something rather terrifying is found, such as this shark that dates back around 80 million years.

Scientists were recently working on a project off the Algarve when they discovered the prehistoric predator, which has a long, snake-like body and around 300 teeth.

Credit: Sic Noticias TV

It's a bizarre creature, which looks more in place on the set of Alien, and is known as the frilled shark, one of the oldest species around today.

Scientists from the Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere caught the frightening beast while working on a project to 'minimise unwanted catches in commercial fishing', the Daily Mail reports.

The team reportedly caught it at 2,300 ft deep off the coast of the Algarve. The species typically stay in deep waters, though not much is known about its biology or environment, given that they dwell where humans rarely go.

According to Professor Margarida Castro, a researcher form the University of the Algarve, who spoke to Sic Noticias TV, the shark gets its name from its teeth, which are in a frilled arrangement. Their nashers help them trap squid, fish and other sharks in sudden lunges.

Credit: Sic Noticias TV

They're from 'the times of the dinosaurs', and apparently come from an ancient groups of sharks that have eyes on the side of their heads, extra gills, big mouths and a spineless back.

As scary as it seems, to come across something with 300 teeth in the depths of the ocean, it's some people's job.

People like Roman Fedorstov, a Russian deep sea fisherman, who tweets all sorts of creatures he's caught on his travels.

He works on a fishing trawler in Murmansk, Russia, according to The Moscow Times, but you'd be forgiven for thinking that some of his catches are from Men in Black.

He too has come across the frilled shark during his exploration, among many other fish that seem to have teeth coming out of their arses.

I think dry land is a safer bet, to be honest.

Topics: World News, Fish, Sea, Animals, shark

Mark McGowan

Mark is a journalist at LADbible, who joined in 2015 after a year as a freelance writer. In the past he blogged for independent football fan channel Redmen TV, after graduating from Staffordshire University with degrees in journalism and English literature. He has worked on campaigns such as UOKM8? and IIOC.