After the discovery of Apristurus ovicorrugatus, researchers are probing museum collections for other shark species that were not seen or misidentified.
Scientists have finally identified a new species of deep-sea shark, and it has some pretty scary features. This abstract creature, called Apristurus ovicorrugatus, has been ignored by researchers for decades, but now is the time, writes Live Science.
The first clue was a mysterious eggshell found in the collection of the Western Australian Museum, but it wasn’t until scientists looked at it a second time that they realized they were dealing with an entirely new species.
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What makes A. ovicorrugatus so unique? First of all, it has white eyes that shimmer in the deep dark waters where the animal lives. This is a rare feature among deep-sea species, with a single known specimen found in Apristurus nakayai from New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea.
But that’s not all – A. ovicorrugatus eggshells are unlike anything scientists have seen before. Also known as mermaid pouches (egg shells), these frilly shells allowed researchers to identify the species and give it its name.
Apristurus is a genus of cat sharks and although about 40 species are known in this family, A. ovicorrugatus stands out for its unique features. Most sharks spawn young, but species such as A. ovicorrugatus lay eggs instead.
These spawning locations may have long antennae that attach to algae or rocks and are an important part of understanding where these sharks spawn.
In the case of A. ovicorrugatus, the eggshell was found attached to the corals, suggesting that these organisms may play a vital role in the reproduction of the species.
The discovery highlights the importance of eggshell shape in identifying new species and provides valuable information to scientists studying deep-sea sharks.
But this is just the beginning! With new technology and a renewed focus on museum collections, researchers like Will White and his colleagues are looking for new shark species that have been overlooked or misidentified.
Who knows what other sharks are hiding right in front of our noses? Be careful and keep your diving gear ready because the world of deep sea sharks just got a lot more interesting.
Previously Focus He wrote about fear from the bottom of the ocean. Scientists have recreated the image of an ancient monster that lived on Earth 300 million years ago.
We also said that scientists managed to find an ancient bacterium in a completely unexpected place in the dental plaque of Neanderthals.
Source: Focus
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.