We haven't done a Real or Not? in a while, but when I saw this image, I knew I had to use it.

It may not be as unsettling as the video of the frilled shark, but it's still pretty scary. What do you think? Is this scary shark image real or not? I'll reveal the answer on Monday. (Don't forget to click "Add my Vote!")

Last week, we posted this image of the Snorkel Cork and asked you to decide if it was real or not.

Nearly 90% of you voted that it was a total sham. For the small minority that voted it was real, I have a question: if you shove a cork in your snorkel, how do you expect to breathe? In any event, the snorkel cork is not real. It is the creation of Scuba PRWire's advertising team, which was trying to illustrate the importance of advertising and marketing -- even for not-so-hot products. I thought the idea of a snorkel cork was just too clever to ignore.

This week, we're trying something a little different for Real or Not?. Here's the image:

And here's where you tell us what you think:

Okay, so this week's Real or Not? was an easy one:

More than 90% of you voted that the image was not real, and if you voted this way, you're right: the image is not real. It's a big, fat fake that I found at All Fantasy Art. Regardless, I think the image is cool in a nightmare-ish, better-you-than-me kinda way, right?

This might be the unluckiest fisherman in the world.

What do you think? Is this week's Real or Not?, um, real or not?

Last week, we showed you an image of a gaping shark's jaw and asked if you thought it was real or not.

While a few people believed the image was distorted -- some sort of camera trick -- many believed the jaws in the photo are those of a megalodon, an ancient ancestor to today's great white that could grow 60 to 70 feet in length. This belief informed many votes, and just over half of the 1230+ voters thought the image was real.

This image was taken in 1995, at a natural history auction. According to CNN, "The [auction's] top estimate of $1.2 million is for a 10-foot-tall reconstructed jaw of an ancient shark believed to have been 70 feet long. The gums are fiberglass, but the 184 teeth are real. The longest is 7 and five-eighths inches." So the image is real; however, portions of the model are manmade -- although they're based on carefully-calculated proportions. Consequently, in my mind, if you voted real, you're right. (But if you voted not real, we'll let it slide this week, because it was kind of a trick question.)

We're so excited about this Real or Not?, we can barely keep our mouths shut until next week! What do you think? Real or not?

Don't forget to click "Add my Vote!"

For our most recent Real or Not?, we featured a photo of a freakin' fish and asked if you thought it was real or not.

80% of you assumed the fish was real. If you voted this way, you're right: this photo of a King-of-the-Salmon is 100% real!

King-of-the-Salmon normally live deep in the ocean (about 1600 feet below the surface), and local experts are confused to why 6-foot-long fish washed up on an Oregon beach a few weeks ago. If you're wondering about its regal name, Tiffany Booth of the Seaside Aquarium claims, "The name King-of-the-Salmon originated from an Indian legend which describes the fish as the 'king' who leads salmon back to the rivers to spawn." Sort of a Pied Piper of the salmon community.

[Photo, via Wierd Sharks]

Ewww. The fish in this Real or Not? is too big to be real. But it's too slimy to be fake. What's your vote?

Last week, we posted this image of a jumping/flying shark and solicited your thoughts on its authenticity:

Just over half of the more than 1200 votes we received claimed the image was real. If you voted this way, you're right: the image is 100% real. I found it in a slideshow on Field & Stream.

Brendan Mason, a software developer from Seattle, caught this enormous mako -- estimated to be 11 feet long and over 600 pounds -- off San Diego. Attracted to some chum, the mako gnawed on both the boat and its motor. Mako sharks have been known to leap over, and even into small boats, when hooked. However, before that happened, Mason released the huge fish. Consequently, the shark -- probably a female -- is swimming freely today.

I'll reveal the answer next Saturday.

Some of the comments in last week's Real or Not? suggested we ditch the same-old, same-old Scary Shark routine. So this week, we're going to mix it up a bit. Consequently, this week's Real or Not? is titled "Freakin' Fish: Frightening or Phony?" Here's the image:

Is it frightening (real)...or phony (not real)?

Last week, we posted this image of a scary, scary shark attack and asked you to decide if it was real or not.

If you are among the 200-or-so people who voted that the image was real, then you're either joking or disturbed. Conversely, if you are one of the 96% of the 5500+ respondants who agreed that the image was not real, then you're right: the image is fake. It's from Jaws: The Revenge.

I found the screengrab on Jabootu's Bad Movie Dimension, who claims the film: "is marked by a rare distinction. The gulf in quality between Jaws and Jaws: The Revenge may well be the widest between any two such films in the entire history of cinema." I remember seeing the movie in the theater, and even as a boy, I remember that it really, really sucked. Anyway, about an hour into the movie, the shark (nick-named Bruce) leaps out of the water and grabs Ellen, killing her. This image is that moment.

Thanks to all who participated, and I hope to provide a more challenging image next time!

Yikes! Better decide quickly! Her life may depend on it!

Last week, we posted this image of a shark and asked you to decide whether it was real or not:

Roughly 2/3 of the more than 8600 people who voted thought the image was real. If you voted that way, you're right: the image is 100% real. Many of you knew that this was an image of an Oophagous Shortfin Mako shark. If you knew it, congraatulations!

Both the Shortfin Mako and the Porbeagle have evolved a type of intra-uterine cannibalism known as oophagy (i.e., egg eating). According to Wikipedia, oophagy is "the practice of embryos feeding on eggs produced by the ovary while still inside the mother's uterus." In other words, as baby sharks grow inside their mother, they eat successive batches of unfertilised eggs. Consequently, this image is of a baby shark -- probably hauled up in a fishing net -- bloated from having eaten so many of his brothers and sisters. The Australian Museum Online has a few other photos of Oophagous sharks, all of which are just as unusual.

For this week's Real or Not?, I selected and image that's somewhat different from the others:

Yech...is this shark real or not?

UPDATE: The answer is revealed!

Last week, we asked you to take a look at this frightening picture...

...and decide if it was real or not.

In reality, the image isn't all that frightening. Nevertheless, just over half of all respondents decided that the shark was, in fact, a real shark. If you voted that it was real, you're right. This image of a pygmy shark is 100% real. Hawaii-based photographer David Kearnes supplied the image of this adult female, 9.4 inches in length, from Hawaii. He also sent us several other intriguing images of the pygmy shark.

The pygmy shark -- the smallest of all shark species -- has a spine in front of its first dorsal fin but not in front of its second dorsal fin, making it unique among sharks. It also has a luminescent belly, which serves as a camouflage system (or, perhaps, as a method for attracting mates). Pygmy sharks generally are deep-water fishes -- living more than a mile beneath the surface -- although they come to mid-water to feed on squid, shrimp, and lanternfishes.

Although their mouths look like those of cookie cutter sharks, they are not the same fish.

I admit that these photos of pygmy sharks aren't all that "pretty." If it's beautiful underwater photography you're looking for, you need to check out David's website, on which he's posted a number of beautiful marine-themed photos, including dolphins, whales, and of course, lots of sharks.

This week's Real or Not? is a tough one. What do you think? (Hint: it's NOT a cookie cutter shark.)

I'll reveal the answer next Saturday! See the answer!

Last week, we asked you to decide whether this image of a creepy shark was real or not.

More than half of the 2300+ voters cried foul, declaring that the image was not real. However, if you voted with the majority, you were wrong, this image of a Frilled Shark is 100% real. This particular Frilled Shark was collected at a depth of 1200 feet off Eden, New South Wales in November 1998. Unknown before the 19th Century, the first Frilled Shark was caught by Japanese fishermen.

Frilled Sharks are long, slender sharks that reach about 6 feet in length and eat anything that can be swallowed whole. Superficially, the Frilled Shark resembles a dark brown or gray eel, but its six gill slits identify it as a shark. It may be found worldwide, usually found at depths of 300 - 4500 feet. If you want to see some more pictures of these strange creatures, check out SeaPics or Marine Themes.

UPDATE: You can see a short video of a frilled shark here.