Unearthing a Mysterious Deepwater Catshark: Apristurus ovicorrugatus

Sunday - May 14 2023, 11:16 UTC - 1 year ago

Researchers have made a ground-breaking discovery of a new species of deepwater catshark, Apristurus ovicorrugatus, off the coast of northwest Australia. Unique egg cases belonging to an unknown species prompted a detailed examination of the specimens, allowing for the species to be identified. The findings are a significant development for shark biology, highlighting the value of using museum collections to find undiscovered species.

After discovering bizarre egg cases in a museum collection that led them to an unknown species of deepwater catshark, researchers have made a ground-breaking discovery. The eggs were determined to be from the Apristurus ovicorrugatus species, which was previously mistaken for Apristurus sinesis due to its milky white eyes.

The Western Australia Museum and the Australian National Fish Collection from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) both have collections of fish samples where the egg cases were discovered. The strange, rigid structure of the egg cases fascinated the scientists. They discovered that the unidentified samples matched those of an in-storage deceased, pregnant female shark specimen with identical eggs. The specimen was taken from water more than 1,800 feet (550 meters) deep off the coast of northwest Australia.

The specimen was initially thought to be an Apristurus sinesis. Still, after further examination of the shark and its embryos, the scientists discovered that it is a new species of deepwater catshark called A. ovicorrugatus. The finding is especially noteworthy because, to date, only two species of Apristurus have been identified off the coast of northwest Australia.

The milky white irises and peculiar egg casings, which have very pronounced longitudinal ridges and are T-shaped in cross-section, are characteristics of the new species. Only one other species in the world has been found to have egg cases with that type of ridging, and that species belongs to a completely different genus. This is because the egg cases are so unusual.

The recently discovered Apristurus ovicorrugatus, which measures only 1.5 feet (0.46 meters) long and has milky white eyes, lives up to the epithet "demon shark" given to the genus. The results were released in the Journal of Fish Biology last month.

The discovery of A. ovicorrugatus is a positive development for the field of shark biology, especially since a team of scientists withdrew their paper in March that purported to be the first account of a goblin shark sighting in the Mediterranean Sea. According to experts, the goblin shark specimen that was photographed was apparently only a plastic toy.

A. ovicorrugatus, a new species of deepwater catshark, has been discovered, which is excellent news for the scientific community. The discovery of this novel species highlights the value of researching museum holdings to find novel and undiscovered species.

The results of the study emphasize the necessity of further research into deepwater ecosystems and the significance of accurate specimen identification. The discovery of A. ovicorrugatus highlights the importance of ongoing research into the varied and exciting world of sharks, which continue to be some of the most enigmatic and fascinating marine life.