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New species of ‘ghost shark’ emerges from the depths in New Zealand
The elusive Australasian Narrow-nosed Spookfish has a cartilage-based skeleton, haunting black eyes and smooth, scale-free skin
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Scientists in New Zealand say they have discovered a new species of “ghost shark”, a type of fish that prowls the Pacific Ocean floor hunting prey more than a mile down.
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The Australasian Narrow-nosed Spookfish was found living in the deep waters of Australia and New Zealand, according to scientists from Wellington-based National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.
The specimens were discovered during research in the Chatham Rise, an area of the Pacific which stretches around 1,000km (621 miles) east near New Zealand’s South Island.
Ghost sharks, or chimaeras, are related to sharks and rays, but are part of a group of fish whose skeletons are entirely made of cartilage.
Also known as spookfish, the ghost sharks have haunting black eyes and smooth, light brown, scale-free skin.
They feed off crustaceans at depths of up to 2,600 metres (8,530 feet) using their distinctive beaklike mouth.
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