Scientists capture rare video of a ghost shark

Chimaeras, also known as ghost sharks, are cartilaginous fishes in the order Chimaeriformes. The ghost shark’s closest living relatives are sharks, though in evolutionary terms, they branched off from sharks nearly 400 million years ago and have remained isolated ever since.

Today, they are largely confined to deep water. Cameras Capture Rare ‘Ghost Shark’ Scientists with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute have recorded what is likely the first-ever video of a large, deep sea ghost.

According to scientists chimaeras were deep sea ghost sharks an off shot of their relative’s white sharks and rays. Known by their scientific name Hydrolagus Trolli or Ray Troll’s chimaeras, they were so called because of artist Ray Troll an Alaskan artist who was fascinated by the creatures and all sea creatures.

The term deep sea creature refers to organisms that live below the photic zone of the ocean. These creatures must survive in extremely harsh conditions, such as hundreds of bars of pressure, small amounts of oxygen, very little food, no sunlight, and constant, extreme cold. According to scientists chimaeras were deep sea ghost sharks an off shot of their relative’s white sharks and rays. Known by their scientific name Hydrolagus Trolli or Ray Troll’s chimaeras, they were so called because of artist Ray Troll an Alaskan artist who was fascinated by the creatures and all sea creatures.

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Credit: Monterey Bay Aquarium