Underwater Temperatures Near 4°C Slow the Frilled Shark’s Entire Life Cycle

This predator lives in water barely warmer than melting ice.

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Deep ocean temperatures remain relatively stable year-round, unlike surface waters.

At depths where frilled sharks reside, temperatures hover around 4 degrees Celsius. Such cold conditions slow metabolic processes, extending growth, digestion, and gestation timelines compared to shallow-water species.

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💥 Impact (click to read)

Cold water reduces energy expenditure but also limits speed of development. A single meal may sustain the shark far longer than in warmer ecosystems.

This temperature-driven slowdown contributes to reproductive cycles lasting years, reinforcing how extreme environments reshape biological clocks far beyond human intuition.

Source

National Geographic

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