A member of a long-lost marine species, believed to have gone extinct almost 200 years ago, has surprisingly been discovered off the Chilean coast. Fishermen along the Chilean coast were targeting bony fish as they deployed their nets into the water. However, what they retrieved from the depths was something unexpected and significant, the elusive Chilean angel shark.
Described as a small, ray-like shark inhabiting shallow coastal waters, the species had been previously documented by a researcher in 1887, but with incomplete and inaccurate information, as revealed in a study published on April 25 in the European Journal of Taxonomy.
The researcher in 1887 provided only limited body measurements, which were insufficient to distinguish the specimen from closely related species, as noted by the researchers. Subsequently, the holotype, or the collected animal used as a reference, was lost, leaving the scientific documentation of Chilean angel sharks void. The sharks were occasionally incidentally caught by fisheries, providing some updates to basic information about the species, but a comprehensive description remained absent.
Two full sharks and one head of a third were captured by the anglers and frozen, then brought to the National Museum of Natural History in Santiago, Chile, according to the study. Here in the museum, the species was confirmed to be the Chilean angel shark. Measuring just 3 feet in length, the Chilean angel shark possesses a uniquely flattened body, distinguishing it from other shark species.
Its back is adorned with thorns, and it carries a small, sharp hook on its head, adding to its perceived danger. This shark is skilled at camouflage and uses ambush tactics for hunting. Typically, it lurks hidden on the seafloor, preying on small fish, crustaceans and mollusks. Due to its secretive nature and nocturnal hunting habits, it’s often referred to as a mysterious creature. Its entire life is spent buried under sand and mud, adding to its enigmatic allure.
Comments
0 comment