Newly Discovered Ghost Shark Species Exhibits Unique Features Living Hundreds of Meters Deep Off Thailand.
Scientists have discovered a previously unseen ghost shark species with a massive head, oversized, shimmering eyes, and fin structures resembling tufts of fur in the deep waters of the Andaman Sea off Thailand, Live Science reported on March 20. This elusive deep-sea fish is scientifically named Chimaera supapae, belonging to the ancient class of cartilaginous fish known as Chimaeriformes. They are distant relatives of sharks and rays. Researchers detailed their findings in a paper published in the Raffles Bulletin of Zoology.
Shape of the ghost shark Chimaera supapae. (Photo: David A. Ebert).
According to David Ebert, director of the Pacific Shark Research Center at San Jose State University in California and the lead researcher, ghost sharks are very rare in these waters. Ghost sharks inhabit continental slopes and underwater mountains. Found at depths below 500 meters, they hide in the dark waters, feeding on bottom-dwelling creatures such as crustaceans, mollusks, and worms.
This new discovery increases the known number of ghost shark species globally to 54. The deep-sea environment makes them very difficult to locate, particularly in the Andaman Sea, where depths in some areas exceed 4,400 meters. The name “ghost shark” comes from their large eyes and elongated, torpedo-shaped bodies. Some species can grow up to two meters long.
The immature male specimen was discovered during a deep-sea survey project in 2018. Scientists collected it during a trawl net drop at the seabed of the Andaman Sea at depths of 772 – 775 meters below the surface. The research team recognized it as a new species due to its robust head, short snout, and large eyes, which make up more than 32% of the total length of its head.
C. supapae is a type of shortnose ghost shark, measuring 51 cm in length with wide pectoral fins. Ebert suspects that its tuft-like fin structures help it maneuver agilely through rocky reefs. The large, shimmering blue eyes of C. supapae allow it to see through the pitch-black water. Its skin is dark brown and lacks distinctive patterns. This fish has a single dorsal spine.
“From an evolutionary standpoint, ghost sharks are among the oldest fish species, with lineages dating back 300 to 400 million years. The discovery of this new ghost shark species shows how little we know about the marine environment,” Ebert stated.
