Scientists in New Zealand have discovered a new species of ghost shark a deep-sea predator that roams the ocean floor over a mile below the surface. Named the Australasian Narrow-nosed Spookfish, this newly identified species was found in the Pacific Ocean, near Australia and New Zealand, during research conducted by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA).
The ghost shark, or chimaera, was discovered in the Chatham Rise, a marine area approximately 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) east of New Zealand’s South Island. These elusive creatures, related to sharks and rays, have skeletons made entirely of cartilage and are known for their haunting black eyes and smooth, light brown, scale-free skin.
Ghost sharks typically reside in the ocean depths of up to 2,600 meters (8,530 feet), where they use their unique beak-like mouths to feed on crustaceans. “Ghost sharks like this one are largely confined to the ocean floor,” explained Brit Finucci, a research scientist at NIWA, who was part of the discovery team.
Finucci named the new species Harriotta avia in honor of her grandmother. “Their habitat makes them hard to study and monitor, meaning we don’t know a lot about their biology or threat status, but it makes discoveries like this even more exciting,” she added.
Previously, this ghost shark was believed to be part of a single species found worldwide. However, new genetic and morphological analyses have revealed that the Australasian Narrow-nosed Spookfish is distinct from its cousins, marking an exciting advancement in the understanding of these mysterious deep-sea creatures.
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