This deep-sea shark is one of the world’s largest glowing animals
A new study has found that three species of deep-sea shark, including the six-foot-long kitefin shark, are bioluminescent.
ByAnnie Roth
Email
Shark researchers working off the eastern coast of New Zealand have made an illuminating discovery. In a new study, published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, the scientists found that three species of deep-sea shark are bioluminescent, producing a soft blue-green light with specialized cells in their skin.
One of the species, the kitefin shark, grows to a length of nearly six feet, making it the largest known bioluminescent vertebrate. Giant squid, which get much bigger, are also known to produce light.
This deep-sea shark is one of the world s largest glowing animals
msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Scientists find three new shark species that glow in the dark
yahoo.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from yahoo.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Scientists find three new shark species that glow in the dark
Scientists have found three new deepwater shark species that can glow in the dark. © Other Research has confirmed three species of sharks found in New Zealand waters are bioluminescent. Pic: NIWA/UCLouvain
The kitefin shark, the blackbelly lanternshark and the southern lanternshark were collected from the Chatham Rise, off the east coast of New Zealand s South Island, in January last year.
The species were already known to marine biologists but this was the first time that they were found to emit light, or have bioluminescence.
Among the sharks, the kitefin is the largest-known luminous underwater creature, usually found swimming 300 metres below sea level preying on smaller sharks, ground fish and crustaceans.
Three glow-in-the-dark sharks found by scientists exploring deep ocean s twilight zone
dailystar.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailystar.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.