A newly discovered ghost shark species exhibits many peculiar characteristics and inhabits depths of hundreds of meters off the coast of Thailand.
Rare Deep-Sea Ghost Shark Found Off Thailand Coast
Scientists have discovered a previously unseen ghost shark species with a gigantic head, oversized luminous eyes, and a cluster-like fin beneath the depths of the Andaman Sea off the coast of Thailand, Live Science reported on March 20th. This elusive deep-sea creature, scientifically named Chimaera supapae, belongs to the oldest living group of cartilaginous fishes, Chimaeriformes, which are distant relatives of sharks and rays. Researchers detailed the discovery in a paper published in the Raffles Bulletin of Zoology.
According to David Ebert, program director of the Pacific Shark Research Center at San Jose State University, and leader of the research team, ghost sharks are extremely rare in this region. They inhabit continental slopes and seamounts in the open ocean, lurking at depths below 500 meters, hiding in the dark water layers, and preying on bottom-dwelling creatures like crustaceans, cephalopods, and worms.
This new discovery brings the total known ghost shark species worldwide to 54. The deep-sea environment makes them challenging to find, particularly in the Andaman Sea, where depths in some areas exceed 4,400 meters. The name “ghost shark” comes from their large eyes and mouse-like tapered body shape. Some species can reach up to two meters in length.
An immature male specimen was discovered during a deep-sea survey project in 2018. Scientists collected it during a trawl at the bottom of the Andaman Sea at depths of 772 to 775 meters. The research team identified it as a new species due to its massive head and short snout, with its large eyes occupying over 32% of its total head length.
C. supapae is a short-nosed ghost shark, measuring 51 cm in length, with broad pectoral fins. Ebert suspects that the cluster-like fin helps it navigate flexibly through rocky terrain. The large, luminous green eyes of C. supapae enable it to see through the pitch-black water. Its dark brown skin lacks distinctive patterns. This species has a spine on top of its head.
“In terms of evolution, ghost sharks are among the oldest fish species, with a lineage dating back 300-400 million years. The discovery of a new ghost shark species shows that we know very little about the marine environment,” Ebert said.