Hexanchidae

/ˌhɛksˈæŋkɪdeɪ/ noun

Definition

A family of primitive sharks characterized by having six gill slits on each side of their body, including the frilled shark.

Etymology

From 'hex-' (six) + 'anch-' (relating to gills, from Greek 'anchia') + '-idae' (the standard suffix for animal families). The name literally means 'six-gill family'.

Kelly Says

Frilled sharks in the Hexanchidae family are living fossils—they've looked basically the same for 80 million years because their deep-ocean habitat changed so little, making them swimming museums of shark evolution.

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