Posted on 04/24/2015 6:12:53 PM PDT by BBell
A rare, tiny "pocket shark" found about 190 miles off the Louisiana coast is only the second of its kind ever discovered, according to Tulane University and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists.
The fish was caught five years ago during a Gulf of Mexico research expedition, frozen and then sent to Tulane researchers in 2013. They ultimately identified the species and compiled a study that was published this week in Zootaxa, the international journal of taxonomy.
The 5 ½-inch male juvenile is unique because of the twin pockets next to its front fins. Those pockets are believed to emit clouds of glowing fluid to help the shark attract prey, deter predators or communicate with others of its kind, said Tulane biologist Michael Doosey, who helped identify the shark and co-authored the study.
"We don't yet know how these glands work and what advantages it might give to a species like this," Doosey said Friday (April 24). "It's a creature that lives in the middle of the dark, deep, cold ocean and no other shark species have anything like it."
The first recorded specimen of this shark -- scientific name: Mollisquama sp. -- was collected in 1979 in the eastern Pacific Ocean off the coasts of Peru and Chile. It was a female, likely an adult, and about 20-inches long.
"It is an incredibly rare species of shark," Doosey said. "There are rare animals around the world, but this is unusual because of how bizarre this shark is and the unusual aspects of its anatomy."
The fact that the Gulf of Mexico shark was a newborn -- it still had an unhealed scar from its umbilical cord -- likely means that it wasn't alone.
"It must have been pupped in the Gulf of Mexico, so I would say that at least its
(Excerpt) Read more at nola.com ...
I always thought it was something sold by Ron Popeil along with his pocket fisherman.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cookiecutter_shark
This is a neat one too. The little holes it takes out of larger animals look like someone took an ice cream scoop to them.
Freegards
Looks sorta like a Rat fish.
Oooh what a nasty little guy. Maybe the name should be changed to the democrat shark.
Thanks BBell. Sorry, I was a little slow on the ping.
My guess is a Pocket Shark won't be on that list any more.........
Say, is that one of those pocket sharks you got in your pants?
Why, yes it is. How could you possibly guess?
With that glowing stain, it has to be a pocket shark or some really bizarre STD.
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