Ocean harbors many secrets, and a large part of it still remains unexplored. Many species inhabiting the deep blue sea remain a mystery to scientists, including the so-called “ghost sharks”, and they’ve been puzzled by a new species discovered in the deep waters of New Zealand.
Sharks are often considered one of the most terrifying ocean dwellers, but wait until you hear about ghost sharks! Also known as chimaeras, spookfish are a group of cartilaginous fish closely related to sharks and rays, which are incredibly hard to spot because they live at great depths in the Pacific Ocean.
Another thing that makes them unique is the absence of scales and the fact their skeletons are made completely of cartilage. The new species discovered in New Zealand was been given the scientific name “Harriotta avia”, after the the grandmother of one of the research team members. In addition to a scale-free skin, it also has a long and narrow snout, broad pectoral fins, and beak-like teeth.
Dr. Brit Finucci, one of the scientists who discovered the Australasian Narrow-nosed Spookfish, expressed hope this discovery will teach them more about “ghost sharks”. Since they typically live at depths of up to 2,600 meters (1.6 miles), they’re extremely hard to study and monitor, and not much is known about their biology or habitat.
