New Zealand scientists have found a brand new species of “ghost shark” – a uncommon sort of fish that’s extremely arduous to identify as a result of it lives at nice depths within the Pacific Ocean.
Often known 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 Slender-nosed Spookfish, mentioned the discover was “thrilling”.
“Their habitat makes them arduous 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 sometimes 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 title with a private twist: Harriota avia.
“Avia means grandmother in Latin, I wished to provide this nod to her as a result of she proudly supported me by means of my profession as a scientist,” Dr Finucci defined.
“Chimaeras are additionally moderately historical kin – the grandmas and grandpas – of fish and I assumed the title was effectively suited.”
The spookfish was initially regarded as a part of a species discovered all over the world. Nonetheless, analysis later revealed it was genetically completely different to its cousins and lived completely 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 determine the most effective methods to guard them.
