New Shark Species Discovered
Posted by Shari Horowitz in Tropical Fish Hobbyist Blog on March 8, 2012 at 7:35 am
The Galapagos catshark (Bythaelurus giddingsi).
In the latest edition of the scientific journal Zootaxa, it was announced that a new species of catshark was discovered off the Galapagos Islands and has been christened Bythaelurus giddingsi. Living at depths of over 1,400 feet, the Galapagos catshark was observed using ROV submersibles. It lives on the seafloor and on average reaches just over a foot in length. However the researchers only found and studied females and immature males. The species is notable for its coloration, which is generally dark and consists of an irregular pattern of spots that appear to be different on each individual.
The researchers postulate that future expeditions will not only reveal more about the Galapagos catshark, but probably more species of catsharks living in the depths of the ocean.
Source: http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2012/f/zt03221p059.pdf
Photograph courtesy of Zootaxa.
