This is the stuff nightmares are made of.
A rare and elusive frilled shark was caught off the coast of Algarve, Portugal and its appearance has people terrified, the Sun reported.
The shark has the body of a snake and the head of a shark, including frightening teeth seen in photos of the sea dweller.
The species dates back 80 million years, making it a “living fossil,” according to the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere.
It was captured by fish stock researchers from the European Union, the Sun reported.
Prehistoric frilled #shark captured off #Portugal https://t.co/5CTBpEeLYJ via @Strange_Sounds pic.twitter.com/yPIRbk9RYi
— Strange Sounds (@Strange_Sounds) November 11, 2017
The shark, which is a male, was five feet long and caught at a depth of 2,300 feet.
Because of its elusiveness the shark has not been caught and brought to a research lab previously, according to the Sun.
According to SIC NotÃcias TV, a rare frilled shark was caught off the coast of Portugal and boy is it terrifying.https://t.co/rLRFuqMteo
— Edgar Allan Doris (@Im_Alistair) November 15, 2017
University of the Algarve professor Margarida Castro said the shark gets its name from the frilled arrangement of its teeth that help it to capture fish, squid and other sharks.
It is believed that the serpent-esque way the snake moves inspired the ancient tales of sea serpents.
The shark has been spotted rarely by humans.
#FrilledShark. Ideal weapon pic.twitter.com/4iMS93hFzm
— Роман Федорцов (@rfedortsov) November 15, 2017
In 2004 it was spotted off the Southeastern coast of the United States, Fox News reported.
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It was also spotted in Japan in January 2007, in Australia in December, 2014 and April 2017 it was spotted in the Tokyo Bay, Japanese website Mantan reported.
Social media users were frightened by the photos.
This is why I stay out of the ocean.
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) November 11, 2017
Wow!!!! The stuff of nightmares!
— Glen Pridgen (@glenpridgen) November 12, 2017
Awesome creature! So glad they mainly live in the deep, though! Teeth are really scary!?
— Steph (@beaglebabe48) November 15, 2017
Super ancient and freaky I wonder what else we can find?
— INDOUT? (@OFFICIALINDOUT) November 13, 2017
#Ancient #sea ‘monster’ that till exists! #Pangea #travel #oceans #sharks https://t.co/phBEsXUwMb
— Corinna D.S. (@LovelyCDS) November 13, 2017
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