This species, recognized in particular due to its retractable sexual organs on its forehead, has never been observed before. The individual was identified by researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) as being a Hydrolagus cf. Trolli, also known as the pointy-nosed blue chimera.
At the same time, in addition to having been filmed for the very first time, Hydrolagus trolli, is a species of shark that was never identified before. But since these fish are generally extremely large, fast and agile, it is difficult to be able to observe them at great depths. ” If and when researchers get their hands on any of these fish, they will be able to perform detailed analyzes of its fins, as well as other parts of its body for DNA analysis… to assign the fish to a whole new species, ”says Kim Fulton-Bennett of MBARI.
These images were captured by an autonomous underwater rover in the Gulf of California, and researchers recently released the images to the public. The creature is a chimera, which originates from a type of deep-sea fish that broke away from sharks in the evolutionary tree nearly 400 million years ago and has remained isolated ever since. Chimeras live near the ocean floor, at depths of up to 8,500 feet. These animals have a set of permanent “tooth plates” to crush their prey, unlike the replaceable tooth conveyor belt found in sharks.
But perhaps the most chilling features are these deep grooves, as if cut into their flesh:
These grooves are called lateral line channels, and they form a system of open channels on the heads and faces, typical to this kind of creature. They are believed to contain sensory cells that help these creatures detect movement in water, in complete darkness. The rows of dots that you can be observed above, are also considered tiny sense organs. So far, the sharp-nosed blue chimera has only been identified in the southwest Pacific Ocean, particularly around Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia.
