Ghost Sharks:
Researchers recently identified a new ghost shark species named Australasian Narrow-nosed Spookfish in the Chatham Rise region near New Zealand.
- Ghost sharks, also known as chimaeras and spookfish, are a group of cartilaginous fish closely related to sharks and rays.
- They genetically diverged from their shark relatives nearly 400 million years ago.
- They have long, tapering bodies and incredibly large heads.
- The ghost shark’s maximum observed length is about 49 inches, but scientists believe they can grow to be more than six feet in some cases.
- Their skin ranges in color from black to pale blue to brownish grey.
- They have haunting black eyes and smooth, light brown, scale-free skin.
- Their eyes are backed with a reflective tissue layer that makes them seem to glow in the dark, contributing to an eerie—even ghostlike—appearance.
- They live at depths ranging from 200 meters to 2,600 meters and generally stay close to the seafloor.
- Their diet primarily consists of shellfish, mollusks, and worms that live on or under the seafloor.
- They are sometimes referred to as the ocean’s butterflies for the way they glide through the water with their large pectoral fins.
- Ghost sharks are thought to be solitary animals, as they are generally observed alone.
