Giant glow-in-the-dark shark that uses bioluminescence as camouflage to attack prey lives nearly 300 meters below the surface off the coast of New Zealand
- A white fin shark with bioluminescence has been spotted in New Zealand
- This is the first time the feature has been observed in the shark species
- It lives deep below sea level, where light cannot reach it
- Experts believe it uses the ability to hide from its prey so it can attack
- They also found a glowing black lantern shark and a southern lantern shark
There are some deep-sea creatures that glow in the dark, but a team studying marine life has the first “ giant luminous shark. ”
Researchers spotted the kitefun shark off New Zealand’s east coast during a survey last year, along with two others – a black-bellied lantern shark and a southern lantern shark, which also possess bioluminescence.
The white-finned shark can reach nearly six feet in length and typically lives 300 feet below sea level, and is considered the largest glowing vertebrate known.
All three unique creatures live in an area of the ocean called the “twilight zone,” which extends 3,200 feet below sea level and out of reach of light.
The study suggests that because they live in an area with no light, there is no place for the sharks to hide and they use their glowing bodies as camouflage – they appear lit from behind against the clear surface of the water.
Scroll down for video
There are some deep-sea creatures that glow in the dark, but a team studying marine life has the first “ giant luminous shark. ” Researchers spotted the kitefun shark off New Zealand’s east coast during an investigation last year
The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, was conducted by researchers from Belgium and New Zealand, who made the discoveries in January 2020 and published their findings on February 26.
The species was collected in the Chatham Rise, an area on the ocean floor east of New Zealand.
And while the species is known in the scientific community, this is the first time the phenomenon of bioluminescence has been observed in them.
Also called ‘living light’ or ‘cold light’, this phenomenon is caused by a chemical reaction in a fish that contains the molecule luciferin that produces light when it reacts with light.
The white-finned shark can reach nearly six feet in length and typically lives 300 feet below sea level, and is considered the largest glowing vertebrate known. Experts suggest the shark uses the ability as a camouflage when attacking prey
‘Bioluminescence was often seen as a spectacular but unusual event at sea, but given the vastness of the deep sea and the occurrence of luminescent organisms in this zone, it is now becoming increasingly clear that the production of light at depth must play an important structuring role. the largest ecosystem on our planet, ”researchers shared in the published study.
“This first experimental study of three New Zealand luminescent shark species provides insight into the diversity of shark bioluminescence and highlights the need for more research to help understand these unusual deep-sea inhabitants: the glowing sharks.”
The study focused primarily on the white-finned shark, as researchers were perplexed as to why the great vertebrates would have lighting capabilities.
They found that although it has few predators, the white fin shark has one of the lowest cruising speeds measured in sharks, suggesting that it has “a high burst capacity.”
The team found two other sharks with bioluminescent properties – a blackbelly lanternshark (pictured) and a southern lantern shark.
After analyzing a specimen’s stomach contents, the team found that it typically feeds on the smaller lanternsharks that have higher swimming speeds.
Knowing this, the team hypothesizes that the kitefin shark uses the luminescence to illuminate the ocean floor while seeking and hunting prey, along with allowing attacks in stealth mode.