Researchers in New Zealand have identified a new subspecies of ghost shark, a deep-sea creature that inhabits the Pacific Ocean floor.
The discovery was made by scientists from New Zealand's National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), who announced the finding on Tuesday.
The subspecies is thought to reside in the waters surrounding Australia and New Zealand. It was found alive in the Chatham Rise, a sea area located east of New Zealand's South Island.
"Ghost sharks like this one are primarily found on the ocean floor," explains Brit Finucci, the researcher involved in the discovery.
Finucci also had the privilege of naming the new subspecies, choosing to name it after her late grandmother.
The species has been named Harriotta avia.
Ghost sharks are cartilaginous fish, related to sharks and rays, and have skeletons made entirely of cartilage rather than bone.
These cartilaginous fish, also known as chimeras, are sometimes referred to as "spookfish."
Ghost sharks are known for their black eyes and smooth, light brown, scaleless skin, although their exact size remains unclear.
"Their deep-sea habitat makes them difficult to study and monitor, so we know very little about their biology or their conservation status. That’s why discoveries like this are so exciting," says Finucci.
Scientists previously believed there was only one species of ghost shark.
Now, they estimate that around 50 different species may exist, though much remains unknown about them.
