Chlamydoselachus africana is the second known species of the shark family Chlamydoselachidae.
Caught off the coast of Namibia, this newly discovered shark appears to feed on smaller sharks and squid. Its snakelike head and long, distensible jaws with multiple needle-like, inwardly directed spines on its teeth are capable of snagging prey as large as half its own body length.
The only other species of frilled shark, such as this is, was discovered in 1884 off the coast of Japan.
Whether this new shark is geographically widespread like its sister species is yet to be determined. Both species are known to inhabit only very deep waters, from 550m to around 900m.
Quentin Wheeler is director of the International Institute for Species Exploration, Arizona State University