NEW SHARK SWIMMING OFF GREENLAND

Photograph courtesy Greenland Institute of Natural Resources

The Iceland catshark species, including this fish caught during the study period, is among several sharks recently found in Greenland waters for the first time.

The small shark has been found in other oceans at depths of between 2,645 to 4,625 feet (800 and 1,410 meters), where it feeds on fish, marine worms, and crustaceans such as lobster and crabs.

The recent discoveries of deep-dwelling species, such as the catshark, are probably due largely to an increase in deep-sea fishing around Greenland—and a resulting boom in odd, accidental catches—the survey team says.

Five of the 38 new-to-Greenland fish species are relatively shallow dwellers, though, and were likely lured into their new habitats by warming seas, the team says.

Source : news.nationalgeographic.com/news

UNEXPECTED SHARK SPECIES



Photograph courtesy Henrik Carl, Natural History Museum of Denmark

This Portuguese dogfish is one of four such specimens found off Greenland since 2007. Listed as near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the deep-sea species native had previously been unknown in Greenland waters, the new report says.

Highlighted in the study as one of the most unexpected finds, the Portuguese dogfish usually dwells in more southerly waters of the western Atlantic Ocean. Commercial fishers catch the Portuguese dogfish both by accident and on purpose—generally for its liver oil, which is used in cosmetics.

Source : news.nationalgeographic.com/news