Frilled Shark Identification Guide
Recognize the Frilled Shark by its eel-like brown body, six frilly gill slits, and rows of trident-shaped teeth.
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Key identification features
- Long, slender, eel-like body, uniform dark brown to grey in color
- Six pairs of gill slits with distinctive frilled, ruffled edges, the first pair meeting across the throat
- Head with a short, rounded snout and large, terminal mouth positioned at the front rather than underneath
- Rows of small, needle-like, trident-shaped teeth visible when the mouth is open
- Single dorsal fin set far back near the tail, close to the anal fin; typically 1.5-2 m (5-6.5 ft)
Common look-alikes
- Sixgill shark: also has six gill slits but a stockier, more conventional shark-shaped body and smooth (non-frilled) gill edges.
- Moray eel: similarly elongated and serpentine but lacks gill slits entirely (has small round gill openings) and has a single continuous dorsal fin along the whole back.
- Sevengill shark: distinguished by seven gill slits instead of six and a broader, less eel-like body.
Where you'll see one
Frilled Sharks inhabit deep continental slope waters worldwide, typically between 500-1,200 m, occasionally rising shallower in areas with cold upwelling; they are rarely seen alive and most records come from deep trawls or strandings.
Frequently asked questions
What is the clearest way to identify a Frilled Shark?
Count the gill slits and check their edges: six pairs with a distinctly frilled, ruffled margin, with the first pair meeting under the throat, is unique to this species.
How do I tell a Frilled Shark from a moray eel?
The Frilled Shark has true gill slits along the sides of its head and a short dorsal fin near the tail, while a moray eel has small round gill openings and one long dorsal fin running the length of its back.