A new species of ghost shark which prowls the Pacific Ocean floor [National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research/Handout via AFP]
A new species of ghost shark which prowls the Pacific Ocean floor [National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research/Handout via AFP]

Scientists in New Zealand have found a new species of “ghost shark”. According to the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) in Wellington, the Australasian Narrow-nosed Spookfish exists only in the deep waters surrounding Australia and New Zealand.

The fish, which hunts prey on the ocean floor more than 2.6 kilometers (1.6 miles) deep, was named after one of the study team’s grandmothers. Spookfish, sometimes known as “ghost sharks” or “chimaeras,” are related to sharks and rays but belong to a group of fish with all-cartilaginous skeletons.

The mystery species are also known as ratfish, rabbitfish, and elephant fish. Ghost sharks have spooky black eyes and smooth, pale brown, scaleless skin.

“Ghost sharks like this one are primarily found on the ocean floor,” stated research scientist Brit Finucci. The specimens were discovered during studies on the Chatham Rise, an area of the Pacific that extends roughly 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) east of New Zealand’s South Island.

Finucci gave the new species the scientific name “Harriotta avia” in honor of her grandmother. “Avia means grandma in Latin. I wanted to acknowledge her because she has proudly supported me throughout my career as a scientist.

Chimaeras are fish’s ancient relatives, or grandmas and grandpas, and I thought the name was appropriate,” she said.Their habitat makes them hard to study and monitor, meaning we don’t know a lot about their biology or threat status, but it makes discoveries like this even more exciting.”