Scientists Classified 50th Ghost Shark Species with an Idiosyncratic Bucktooth in Atlantic and Indian Oceans

A brand new species of extremely rare ghost shark has just added to the existing list of known ghost sharks. With a distinctive ‘Bucktooth,’ the 50th species of ghost sharks was spotted in Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In the 31st January edition of the journal Zootaxa, scientists have announced the discovery of this brand new ghost shark species. With rabbit-like buckteeth and hulking head, the new shark is quite exceptional from the known species.

Up to date, there are 49 known species of ghost sharks and the recently found one is the 50th addition to the list. In addition to this, it also has an idiosyncratic Bucktooth, because of which scientists have classified this new species as the fourth ghost shark species under the genus Hydrolagus. The new finding has been named as ‘H. Erithacus’, and was conducted between South Africa and Antarctica, in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

According to the researchers, this is the very same location, where the discoveries of three previous ghost sharks under Hydrolagus genus were taken place. The earlier three species were dubbed as H. mirabilis, H. Africanus, and H. cf. trolli and the recent one is named as H. Erithacus. Because of their same feature – the rabbit-like “buckteeth” swellings at the front part of the mouths, scientists have classified the ghost described above sharks in a separate category.

The new ghost shark is approximately 3 feet (1 meter) in length, which is nearly half of a refrigerator’s height. With 1 meter length, the newfound aquatic creature is recorded as the second biggest ghost shark species, ever spotted. In general, the ghost sharks have bulky heads and thin tails. But surprisingly, the H. Erithacus is one of the heftiest creatures, ever found. The scientists also have published a journal on the discovery of this newfound aquatic creature, in which they mentioned about two specimens of ghost sharks which were accidentally trapped by deep sea fishermen.

The researchers, led by Kristin Walovich have found the new species very exciting and exceptional too. Though up to now, very little facts are known about the Bucktoothed ghost shark, but the scientists are trying their best to get some useful clue from the newfound species regarding the mysterious behavior of the creature.