New Shark Species Discovered in Galapagos
Scientists conducting deep-sea dives around the Galapagos Islands have identified a new species of shark. Part of a family known as a catsharks, the new species is about 1.3 feet long, roughly the same size as a typical housecat.
Catsharks (also sometimes known as dogfishes) are one of the largest families of sharks. The new species — named Bythaelurus giddingsi — was identified from seven specimens during two submersible treks in 1995 and 1998. Researchers have suggested the Galapagos Catshark as the common name of the new species.
The seven specimens were taken to the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, where scientists compared them to other known catsharks. B. giddingsi individuals are chocolate-brown and have pale, leopard-like spots randomly distributed on their body. This distinguishes them from other closely related species, which are typically dusky or possess a straight line of spots.
Thank you so much!!! I plan on posting a lot more during Spring Break. College and blogging do not go well together!
:)
A very rare humpback whale that’s entirely white has been spotted near Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
The whale’s thought to be a few weeks old and was spotted by a local man.
He said: “I couldn’t believe my eyes, and I just grabbed my camera. Then the white calf approached my boat, seeming to want to check us out.”
White whales are rare - the reef’s rep says there are only 10-15 among the 10,000-15,000 humpback whales living along Australia’s east coast.
And it’s even rarer for them to be completely white like this one.
(Source: crownedrose)
Aracana ornata (Ornate cowfish)
Asterias rubens (Common Seastar)
tagged: turtle sea turtle green sea turtle reptiles ocean animals
Chelonia mydas (Green sea turtle)
Corythoichthys flavofasciatus (Yellow banded pipefish)
Achoerodus viridis (Eastern blue grouper)
