Scientists have discovered a new species of tiny sharks that glow in the dark. It is she who provides the glow of the predator in the dark.
Mollisquama mississippiensis is a miniature shark found in 2010 in the center of the Gulf of Mexico. Another name for the fish is the Parina shark. Recently, an individual was classified as a new species belonging to the group of pocket sharks. So far, there are only 2 varieties in it. Scientists claim that these two types of fish live in different oceans. They are quite rare, which only confirms the fact that the biological diversity of fish in the ocean depths is poorly understood.
Specialists first discovered the Parina shark in 1979. Only 5 years later, in 1984, a detailed description of the predator appeared. An individual found in deep ocean waters is an adult female with a body length of 40 cm. Until 2010, researchers did not find other fish in this category. Then a new small fish, Mollisquama mississippiensis, was found. Scientists carefully studied the body structure of an individual using CT and X-ray images.
The applied research methods made it possible to accurately determine the distinctive features of 2 varieties of pocket sharks. Scientists learned more about the anatomical features of these fish and found out that they have special pockets near the gills. A special liquid with bioluminescent properties is hidden inside them.Due to it, small sharks become clearly visible at night, emitting a beautiful glow.
2 types of predatory fish Mollisquama mississippiensis have their own differences. For example, an individual found in 2010 has fewer vertebrae than fish found in 1979. Accordingly, her body length is less (14 cm). In addition, the shark has photophores (cells glowing in the dark). Sharks of the first species emit a glow only due to bioluminescent liquid.
At the same time, the second species of fish uses not only liquid, but also photophores, which are unevenly distributed throughout the pocket shark, to glow in the dark. The classification of a new species of small shark is made on the basis of 5 diagnostic features. In addition to photophores and fewer vertebrae, the representative of the species has 2 differences associated with the dentition.
