Scientists in New Zealand have made a remarkable discovery: a new species of ghost shark, known as the Australasian Narrow-nosed Spookfish. This elusive species was found prowling the deep waters of the Pacific Ocean, particularly around the Chatham Rise, a region located 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) east of New Zealand’s South Island.
The ghost shark, also known as chimaera or spookfish, belongs to a group of fish that are closely related to sharks and rays, with skeletons made entirely of cartilage. Unlike their more well-known relatives, these ghostly creatures boast haunting black eyes and smooth, scale-free skin that ranges from light brown to grayish tones.
The newly discovered spookfish resides at depths of up to 2,600 meters (8,530 feet), where it feeds on crustaceans using its distinctive beak-like mouth. According to Brit Finucci, a research scientist at New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), ghost sharks like this one are largely confined to the ocean floor, making them difficult to study and monitor. Their deep-sea habitat adds to the mystery of their biology and conservation status.
Finucci gave this newly identified species its scientific name, Harriotta avia, in memory of her grandmother. Until now, this spookfish was thought to be part of a globally distributed species, but further genetic and morphological studies revealed that it is distinctly different from its close relatives.
This exciting discovery sheds new light on the biodiversity of the ocean’s depths and highlights the mysteries that still lie beneath the surface. As research continues, scientists hope to learn more about this enigmatic species and its role in the deep-sea ecosystem.