March 16, 2022
Scientists have discovered a rare baby ghost shark that inhabits both the depths of the ocean and shallow coastal waters. This little-known species known as ‘chimaera’ is rarely spotted and sightings of its young ones are even more uncommon. The team found the fish off the coast of New Zealand’s South Island and believe the baby shark had recently hatched as its belly was still full of egg yolk. The newly hatched deep-water creature was found lurking at a depth of 1.2kms. Embryos of the ghost shark develop in egg capsules and once laid on the seafloor, they feed on the egg yolk till they are ready to hatch. The skeleton of the fish is primarily composed of cartilage, which creates an eerie visual.
Did You Know?
Sharks hatch their eggs inside their belly and then lay them in a safe place.
Image Source: wikipedia.org
