If you like teeth, underwater predators, and strange things, then we have some good news for you: Researchers have identified two new rare species of six-gilled sawsharks in the waters off Eastern Africa.
What makes these unusual sharks particularly extraordinary is the fact that they have six gills slits per side, as opposed to the five normally found in sawsharks. But that’s not all, as their name suggests, they are also known for their long, flat snouts, studded with teeth that allow them to hunt their prey like no other.
Finding the two species represents an astonishing discovery for researchers, as knowledge about the whereabouts of such animals in the Indian Ocean is still scarce. Their identification is also an important contribution towards evaluating their rarity and population status, as well as assessing their vulnerability to fishing operations.
