New "ghost shark" species discovered in the depths of the Andaman Sea

Scientists have discovered a new species of "ghost shark" in the Andaman Sea off the coast of Thailand. Measuring around 50 cm in length, this fish has enormous eyes that illuminate in darkness and sports fins akin to feathers.

Chimaeras, often referred to as "ghost sharks", are among the most ancient fish species still in existence - according to a report by American Newsweek. The latest discovery has been comprehensively documented in the Raffles Bulletin of Zoology journal. The old shark, named Chimaera supapae, was located at a depth exceeding 700 metres.

"Ghost sharks" belong to the Chimaeridae family, distant relatives of sharks and rays. They branched off around 400 million years ago, preserving many of the primitive features characteristic of ancient fish. They generally measure between 1.5 to 1.8 metres in length, with their bodies cloaked in scales resembling teeth. Many possess long, whip-like tails. Their diet mainly consists of fish, crustaceans, and molluscs.

Chimaeras inhabit the deep sea - anywhere from 500 to over 4,000 metres beneath the ocean's surface. The newly identified Chimaera supapae boasts enormous eyes that glow in the dark, a large head, and feather-like fins. It was found during deep-sea exploration in the Andaman Sea in 2018. At that time, researchers came across a deceased, juvenile male, approximately 50 cm long.

- Previously, only 53 species of chimaeras were known. This finding increases that number to 54 - stated David Ebert, the lead author of the study and the Program Director of the Pacific Shark Research Center at San Jose State University in California, as reported by Live Science. - Chimaeras are scarce in this part of the world (...). New findings, such as this one, underscore our limited knowledge of the marine realm and highlight the vast scope for further exploration - the expert added.

The new chimaera species has been named in tribute to Thai scientist Supapa Monkolprasit, known for his dedication to studying "ghost sharks".

Source: Newsweek, Live Science

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