Mollisquama mississippiensis explained

Mollisquama mississippiensis or the American pocket shark[1] is a species of pocket shark native to the Gulf of Mexico. It is the second species of pocket shark to be described.

Discovery

The shark was first discovered by scientists from Tulane University that were conducting a study on sperm whales in 2010. In 2013, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration identified it as a pocket shark,[2] the first to be found in its region. A previously found specimen of a different pocket shark species was caught off the coast of Chile[3] in 1979 and was used to identify the two different species due to their differences in size, vertebrae and numerous light-producing photophores.

Description

The head is bulbous, resembling that of a whale.[4] The shark is very small, at only . Near the gills are two "pockets" that secrete a luminous fluid which may enable the shark to hunt.[5] The body is grey with the fins being darker. The areas around the gills are cream colored.[6] There are clusters of photophores around the body, which are able to produce light.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Adorable Shark Fits in Your Hand, Looks Like a Mini Sperm Whale. Weisberger. Mindy. July 22. Senior Writer . Live Science. 2019-07-24. ET. 2019 06:48am. 22 July 2019 .
  2. Web site: This glow-in-the-dark shark was recently discovered. Here's what we know . Scribner . Herb . 2019-07-23 . DeseretNews.com . en. 2019-07-24.
  3. Web site: Scientists discover new species of shark that glows in the dark to lure in food . Fiallo. Josh . Tampa Bay Times . en-US . 2019-07-24.
  4. Web site: This New Shark Species Looks Like a Tiny Sperm Whale. Katz. Brigit. Smithsonian. en. 2019-07-24.
  5. Web site: New species of glow-in-the-dark shark found in Gulf of Mexico. www.cbsnews.com. en-US. 2019-07-24.
  6. Maisey. John G.. Bart. HENRY L. Jr. Naylor. Gavin J. P.. Denton. John S. S.. Doosey. Michael H.. Grace. Mark A.. 2019-06-18. A new Western North Atlantic Ocean kitefin shark (Squaliformes: Dalatiidae) from the Gulf of Mexico . Zootaxa. en. 4619. 1. 109–120. 10.11646/zootaxa.4619.1.4. 31716316. 1175-5334. free.

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