'Very rare' baby ghost shark found by scientists
CTV
Scientists in New Zealand have discovered a newly-hatched ghost shark which they say could inform their knowledge of the 'mysterious' creature.
The ghost shark was found at a depth of around 1,200 metres (about 3,900 feet) on the Chatham Rise, an area of ocean floor off the east coast of the South Island.
The "very rare" discovery was made during a recent survey, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research said in a press release on Tuesday.
A deep water animal, the ghost shark is scientifically known as chimaera, with other names including rat fish, spook fish and rabbit fish, according to the Shark Trust. The ghost shark is closely related to sharks and rays.
They are cartilaginous fish -- having skeletons primarily made up of cartilage -- and their embryos grow in egg capsules laid on the sea floor, and feed off egg yolk until they hatch.
