The habitat of ghost sharks is located deep beneath the ocean floor, making their study and monitoring challenging.
Recently, scientists in New Zealand announced the discovery of a new species of “ghost shark”, which lurks at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean and preys at depths of 2,600 meters.
An image of the newly discovered “ghost shark” in the Pacific Ocean (Photo: National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research).
This species, temporarily named the Australasian narrow-nosed ghost shark, is related to sharks and rays but belongs to a group of fish with skeletons made entirely of cartilage.
Notable features include protruding black eyes, smooth, scale-less skin, and a light brown color. Their fins and tails also have very unusual structures.
This fish typically hunts and feeds on crustaceans at depths of up to 2,600 meters. Their primary weapon is a mouth with a unique structure resembling a bird’s beak.
Previously, it was believed that sharks were a single subfamily, with their presence across all oceans.
This perception has gradually changed as scientists have discovered various species that share genetic and morphological structures with sharks.
Experts indicate that the habitat of ghost sharks is located deep beneath the ocean floor, making their study and monitoring difficult. For this reason, many deep-sea organisms remain beyond the reach of scientific research.
