09/09/2021 13:20
Clarín.com
International
Updated 09/09/2021 13:20
Two naval officers spotted that something was floating in the waters off the island of Elba, Italy.
When they approached with the boat they immediately took it out and were surprised to discover that it was a
pig-faced shark
.
The sailors of the Darsena Medicea marina in the city of Portoferraio, found a striking species of shark.
But they quickly dispelled all sorts of doubts about the shark as it was identified as an
extremely rare angular rough shark
(
Oxynotus centrina
).
Pig shark
The shark is also sometimes known as a pig-faced shark that normally
lives 700 meters below the surface
.
The angular rough shark or pig tuburon lives in the depths of the sea, about 700 meters.
The creature is also listed on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as
endangered
, which means that its appearance is very rare.
Despite the discovery occurring three weeks ago, its discovery went viral when photos of the odd-looking marine animal were posted on social media.
What happened to the shark
The post immediately attracted hundreds of comments, including criticism from those who
thought the shark had been caught and killed on purpose
.
After being removed from the water, the angular rough shark was taken to the Port Office to be studied and finally removed, reports
Mirror
.
The strange shark caught the attention of the ship's officers.
Yuri Tiberto, from the Elba Aquarium, confirmed to the local media that it is not so rare to see it locally either.
And he explained that "it is commonly called 'pig fish' because, beyond its face, when it comes out of the water it
emits a kind of growl
".
"In the sea of the Tuscan archipelago, so rich in biodiversity ... it is not uncommon to find this fish. And I can safely say that I often receive reports that tell me about 'pigfish' that have ended up in local fishing nets." added.
Angular rough shark characteristics
Tiberto remarks that from the outset he tried to
house it for a time in one of the aquarium tanks
, but he soon gave up.
"It is a species that does not adapt to captivity," he says.
The angular rough shark is known to live in the
eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea
.
Similar species, with its classic plump body, inhabits the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
It has a
plump
, tall
body
with a triangular section, with three longitudinal carenas at each vertex of the triangle: one interdorsal and two abdominal ones.
Small head with a short, blunt snout and large forward nostrils.
The mouth is also very small, with fleshy and prominent lips.
The eyes are also large,
oval and without a nictitating membrane
.
It lacks an anal fin.
Look also
Global threat: bacteria that break down oil and diesel found in the Arctic
Underwater treasure hunter Leigh Webber and his fabulous finds around the world
Shocking video: a huge alligator attacks its trainer during an educational visit with boys
