The Ghost Shark Thrives in Oceans More Than 2,000 Feet Deep

Despite their spooky nickname, ghost sharks aren't actually sharks. They're members of the Chimaera family, a group of fishes that split off from sharks more than 400 million years ago.

They have long, tapering bodies, a protruding snout and two dorsal fins. The pectoral and pelvic fins look almost wing-like, giving them an eerie, gliding motion through the water.

One of their standout features is a reflective tissue layer over their eyes, perfect for navigating low light conditions in the deep sea.

Ghost sharks also possess retractable sexual appendages on their foreheads — yes, really — which scientists believe play a role in reproduction for male chimaeras.

Ghost sharks occur in most of the world's oceans (except polar regions), most typically spotted in ocean depths near New Zealand and southern Australia.

Some species do appear in shallower waters, but the deep ocean (depths greater than 2,000 feet (610 meters)) is their stronghold.

Their habitat is cold, pressurized, and nearly pitch black — ideal for creatures evolved for stealth and survival.

Ghost sharks are specially adapted for their dark environment. With highly sensitive electroreceptors on their snouts, they can detect electric fields emitted by other fish and invertebrates. They rely less on vision and more on sensing their prey, which includes soft-bodied animals, mollusks and crustaceans.

Their teeth are plate-like rather than sharp, allowing them to crush hard shells with ease. Most species lay leathery egg cases, which they deposit in sandy or muddy sea floors. These egg cases often go unnoticed by researchers, making them even more difficult to study.

Like many species adapted to extreme environments, ghost sharks are vulnerable to overfishing and habitat disruption. The Food and Agriculture Organization and various marine biology research groups emphasize the need for conservation efforts, especially as new species are caught or discovered.

In 2022, scientists off New Zealand discovered (and captured footage of) a ghost shark hatchling, marking a rare glimpse into its early life. This research helps us understand not just one oddball fish, but the broader evolutionary history of vertebrates.

You might have stumbled upon a film called "Ghost Shark," and if you have, let's just say the film violates the most crucial rule of shark storytelling: Don't make your predator capable of phasing through walls.

While the movie is a whirlwind of trashy filmmaking and impossible plot twists, real ghost sharks are far more fascinating and complex than any CGI nightmare.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.