There is very little known about bluntnose sixgill sharks. These animals, which have six gills instead of five, are considered "near threatened", but there is also currently not enough data to determine their population. That's why researchers with OceanX developed a submarine and modified spear guns to go down and tag the animals down at around 4,500 feet, where they usually live. Previously, they would have to be trapped, brought to the surface, then tagged, which was both traumatic for the shark and difficult for humans to do.
Down in the ocean, researchers and seeing the sharks a lot more often and having more success tagging them. They hope that this will help them understand more about these little-known creatures. It is believed that though they spend the majority of their time in the depths where the water is colder, they come up to shallower areas in order to feed. This means that climate change and warmer oceans could have an impact on their population and feeding patterns since they cannot tolerate warmer waters.
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