A \u201cGhost Shark\u201d Swims into Our
\nImaginations<\/b><\/p>\n
To deep-sea explorers, liquid <\/i>space is the final frontier, full of the weird and wonderful.<\/p>\n
Lonny Lundsten, senior research technician at the Monterey
\nBay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), is no exception.<\/p>\n
He was part of a team that published research about and
\nproduced a video of an unusual species of \u201cghost shark\u201d in deep-sea habitat off
\nCalifornia\u2019s central coast\u2014the first time the species (the pointy-nosed blue
\nchimaera, Hydrolagus trolli<\/i>) has ever
\nbeen seen alive. <\/p>\n
This animal\u2019s unusual features probably fascinate us for the
\nsame reasons they fascinate Lonny. Its lateral line system makes it look stitched
\ntogether, a little like Frankenstein\u2019s monster. Lonny says these visible lines allow
\nthe chimaera to sense vibrations or movements in the water and likely help it find
\nprey.<\/p>\n
One of the male\u2019s copulatory organs is actually located on Lonny says exploring the deep sea proves the adage that \u201cThe things I see are so remarkable and startling that I Exploring the deep sea is MBARI\u2019s specialty, and its \u201cMBARI is using state-of-the-art technology to push into the Lonny reminds us that exploring the deep sea 100 years ago \u201cIn many cases scientists had fragments of animals, animals Lonny says he\u2019s grateful that his job has made his \u201cThe coolest thing is that I get a sense of what it must Need more ghost shark in your life? Watch the full video!\u00a0\u2b07<\/p>\n
\nits head. Lonny says it\u2019s thought to be used to grasp and hold a female during
\ncopulation. Other striking features include bony tooth plates; a long, slender,
\npointed tail; large eyes; and large pectoral fins.<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
<\/figure>\n
\ntruth is stranger than fiction.<\/p>\n
\ndon\u2019t need to imagine what might be in the deep sea,\u201d he says. \u201cCarnivorous
\nsponges are my current specialty. They are such a bizarre animal\u2026amazing and
\nutterly surprising!\u201d<\/p>\n
\nscientists have an impressive suite of technological tools at their disposal, especially a remotely operated vehicle that can descend into the ocean\u2019s depths. Lonny conducts a lot of his research watching HD video footage of animals and
\nhabitats as filmed by the ROV.<\/p>\n
\ndeep sea, down to 4,000 meters. This is an environment that is largely
\nunexplored and certainly hasn\u2019t been filmed using high-definition video
\ncameras,\u201d he says. \u201cWe use specialized lighting systems and HD cameras that can
\nresolve details down to about a millimeter in size\u2026we can observe animal
\nbehavior, and we can see what the habitat looks like where they\u2019re found.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nwas mostly done by \u201cdragging a net through the water column or along the
\nseafloor, basically taking a big scoop of whatever was there\u201d and working with
\nthe pieces\u2014often literally. <\/p>\n
\nthat had been damaged or destroyed, with colors that no longer represented how
\nthey appear in life,\u201d he says. \u201cNow we see these animals in their own
\nenvironment, we can see their habitat, their abundance, and the other organisms
\nthat live near them. We make stunning video observations and then we can carefully
\ncollect them so they are undamaged.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"image\"](\"https:\/\/64.media.tumblr.com\/1088d467b78e1c2855faff97a7fb0276\/tumblr_inline_or3lo9RAM61qk45js_1280.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n
\ndreams come true of discovering new species and exploring new habitats.<\/p>\n
\nhave felt like for early explorers in human history to go places nobody\u2019s ever
\nbeen and to see things that nobody\u2019s ever seen before,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s truly
\nexciting and rewards me with a feeling of awe and wonder for the natural
\nworld.\u201d<\/p>\n