Home Animals Ghost sharks: their skeletons are made of cartilage rather than bone. Read details below

Ghost sharks: their skeletons are made of cartilage rather than bone. Read details below

Posted November 14, 2023 by NTN1111

New Zealand scientists discovered a “baby” ghost shark while conducting a survey off the east coast of the South Island.

Ghost sharks – also known as “chimaeras” – are not actually sharks but are related to sharks because their skeletons are made of cartilage rather than bone.

Not much is known about this marine creature because it usually lives at a distance of 1,829 m below the sea surface. Most researchers cannot reach such deep distances.

Scientist Brit Finucci at New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research told Reuters on February 17: “What we know is that large ghost sharks are 1.5 meters long and 1 meter wide. Because So, finding a ghost shark just in the palm of my hand is extremely exciting.”

The “baby” ghost shark was discovered in New Zealand. Photo: Twitter

The newborn ghost shark mentioned above was discovered at a depth of 1,200 m. It has black fins, almost transparent skin, a white tail, and black eyes.