Right now it's known as a "living fossil." But the frilled shark may be on its way to joining its ancestors.

Often accidentally caught and killed in trawlers' nets in Japanese waters, frilled sharks are known to turn up in fertilizer or animal food and occasionally on dinner plates. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) lists the species as near threatened, meaning it "is close to qualifying for or is likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future."

• More Photos in the News
• Today's 15 Most Read Stories
• Free Email Newsletter: Focus on Photography