New Species, the Ninja Lanternshark, Lurks in the Deep Ocean

First Posted: Dec 24, 2015 05:24 PM EST
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A new species of shark has been discovered in the deep sea. Scientists have found a "ninja lanternshark" that lives deep beneath the ocean waves.

The newly discovered species of shark has jet black skin and a faint glow that allows it to navigate the deep ocean. It can be found in the Pacific Ocean off of the coast of Central America in waters that are as much as 2,742 feet to 4,734 feet deep.

"The common name we have suggested, Ninja Lanternshark, refers to the shark's color which is a uniform sleek black as well as the fact that it has fewer photophores [organs that emit light] than other species of lanternsharks," said Vicky Vasquez, one of the scientists on the team that detailed the new shark, in an interview with Mashable.

But what about the glowing? It's likely that the sharks glow just enough to hide their shadows and keep themselves hidden in the dark.

The new findings don't just tell researchers about this new shark. They also show that there are far more species waiting to be discovered in the deep ocean.

The findings were published in the Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation.

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