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The footage, reportedly shot by Japanese marine biologists, shows the behemoth illuminated in the vanishing blackness.

It was apparently filmed a mile down – beyond the reach of sunlight – in the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the world's oceans.

Yet further research reveals it was actually recorded in Japan's Suruga Bay and though it's huge, nobody's sure quite how big.

(Image: YOUTUBE)

When the clip begins, the shark is seen approaching the bait cage before obscuring our view with its humongous body.

Then, as the camera jolts upwards, the beast's terrifying white eyes are clearly observed.

An estimate of the shark's size was made based on the dimensions of the cage.

* * SEE THE NEWLY-DISCOVERED JET-BLACK 'NINJASHARK' * *

(Image: YOUTUBE)

Now the footage has given rise to speculation that the long-extinct megalodon still rules deep beneath the waves.

The megalodon, which is thought to have resembled the great white shark, is estimated to have reached lengths of 59ft.

It died out some 2.6million years ago, but the monstrous creature is believed to be one of largest and most powerful that ever lived.

(Image: GETTY)

But the video rules this out, stating that the Pacific Ocean would be unlikely to have sufficient food for such a beast at such depths.

Now it has been claimed that the creature's size was miscalculated and it was actually a sixgill shark – which can grow up to 25ft long.

Another suggestion says its a Pacific sleeper shark, which lurks at depths at low as 9,000ft down.

While abyssal gigantism – a tendency for deep-sea creatures to be abnormally large – is also guessed at.

The video was uploaded to YouTube by Hunchback Entertainment, which specialises in creepy footage.

And since going live last week it has been watched nearly 10,000 times.