Some Australian fishermen caught a terrifying sea beast known as ‘Devil Shark’ while bottom trawling – six pups were found inside and experts say she was about to give 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡
The sea beast is referred to as a ‘living fossil’ (Image: Facebook/TaiwanSpecimenArtisticMusem)
A grim-looking sea creature weighing 125st (798kg) was hauled from the ocean with six pups inside.
Snaps of the goblin shark, also known as ‘Devil Shark’, were shared by the Taiwan Ocean Artistic Museum on Facebook after it was snared in Nanfangao, Taiwan.
The post explained it is the largest goblin shark ever caught in Taiwan. It was caught accidentally by some Australian fishermen who were using a bottom trawler.
The beast was set to be flogged to a local restaurant but the Taiwan Ocean Artistic Museum explained it worked hard to get it instead. It is now expected to be put on display.
Six pups were found inside (Image: Facebook/TaiwanSpecimenArtisticMusem)
Goblin sharks are known as “living fossils” because they are the last existent species from a 125million-year lineage of ancient sea beasts.
Their skin is pink-coloured and they tend to grow to around 13ft – although one has been recorded at 20ft.
Goblin sharks are a very rare find as they spend most of their time in deep waters. They tend to stay around 1,000ft to 3,000ft below the ocean surface.
A subsequent photo shared by the Taiwan Ocean Artistic Museum on Facebook showed the six shark pups found inside the dead pregnant mother.
They each measured around 4ft and weighed 3.5kg, the museum said.
The pups each measured around 4ft and weighed 3.5kg (Image: Facebook/TaiwanSpecimenArtisticMusem)
“Each 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦 shark has a nutrient capsule in its belly, it is indeed grown by the nutrient sac,” the post added.
“The 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦 shark’s teeth are already formed. So, basically this mother shark should not be too far from her due date.”
Several Facebook comments expressed anger over how the shark and her pups were 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed by accident.
Bottom trawling is illegal in several parts of the world due to the excessive bycatch it leads to. It is however permitted off the coast of Taiwan.
