New Zealand scientists have found a brand new species of “ghost shark” – a uncommon sort of fish that’s extremely onerous to identify as a result of it lives at nice depths within the Pacific Ocean.
Also referred to as a spookfish or chimera, ghost sharks are carefully associated to sharks and rays. They don’t have scales and their skeletons are made fully of cartilage.
Dr Brit Finucci, one of many scientists who found the Australasian Slim-nosed Spookfish, mentioned the discover was “thrilling”.
“Their habitat makes them onerous to check and monitor, which means we do not know quite a bit about their biology or risk standing,” she mentioned.
Dr Finucci and different researchers from New Zealand’s Nationwide Institute of Water and Atmospheric Analysis (Niwa) discovered the creature in an space of ocean flooring referred to as Chatham Rise, which lies to the east of New Zealand.
Ghost sharks usually stay at depths of as much as 2,600m (1.6 miles).
Dr Finucci mentioned the species stood out for its unusually lengthy snout, which may make up half its physique size.
She has given the brand new fish a scientific identify with a private twist: Harriota avia.
“Avia means grandmother in Latin, I wished to offer this nod to her as a result of she proudly supported me by way of my profession as a scientist,” Dr Finucci defined.
“Chimaeras are additionally quite historical family – the grandmas and grandpas – of fish and I assumed the identify was properly suited.”
The spookfish was initially regarded as a part of a species discovered world wide. Nonetheless, analysis later revealed it was genetically completely different to its cousins and lived solely in Australian and New Zealand waters.
Scientists say discoveries like this are essential, as a result of studying extra about how the species lives helps specialists work out the perfect methods to guard them.
