Researchers stumbled upon the demon catshark off the Kimberley coast, approximately 300 kilometers west of Broome, when they uncovered a collection of its eggs.A scientist believes that the recent discovery of a new species of demon catshark will contribute to a better understanding of shark evolution.
The distinct white eyes of this deepwater shark provide valuable insights into its evolutionary traits and may establish connections between related species.
Will White, the senior curator of the CSIRO’s Australian National Fish Collection, highlighted the rarity of the creature’s white iris. It differs from the usual dark eyes seen in deep water sharks. This unique characteristic not only distinguishes the species but also raises questions about its evolutionary path within a group of closely related species.
The identification of this demon catshark species was a lengthy and challenging process. In 2011, a volunteer researcher named Brett Human discovered an unidentified shark egg, characterized by distinct T-shaped ridges, while working at the WA Museum. After connecting the egg to a set of similar specimens found during a marine expedition in 1989, Human identified them as belonging to the genus Apristurus. However, the exact species remained unidentified.
Dr. White emphasized the time-consuming nature of species identification, stating that it can take a while to compare and resolve potential new species with existing ones. Eventually, the researchers discovered a pregnant female specimen in the CSIRO databases, which contained the same ridged egg cases. This finding confirmed the existence of a distinct and separate species.
The demon catshark species is typically found in depths exceeding 700 meters, where it lays its eggs on specific coral species. Due to the depth at which they reside, these sharks are rarely observed. Dr. White suggested that more discoveries are on the horizon, as there is still much to learn about the deepwater fauna in Australia. Ongoing deepwater surveys are expected to uncover additional species records and expand our knowledge of this fascinating ecosystem.