Recently published in a journal, Scientists have finally declared the the tiny shark a species after years of one being found. The first pocket shark, a female was discovered in 1972 in the pacific ocean but no other shark resembling her had been found until 2010. The shark’s length is a mere 5.5 inches long however it’s not called a pocket shark because they can fit in your pocket but because the species has a “pocket” like pouch, containing a glowing fluid, near its back fins. The shark also has a large bulbous head that resembles a sperm whale. Only two of its kind have been found, one male, and one female. The two sharks are not the same species, they have some small differences in features The author of the article, “Adorable Shark Fits in Your Hand, Looks Like a Mini Sperm Whale” had this to say on the differences, “It has different teeth, 10 fewer vertebrae, a pit organ on its jaw and light-producing organs distributed on its stomach and back, the scientists wrote”( Weisberger ). The new species recently discovered is the american pocket shark.
Mollisquama mississippiensis has been found the gulf of Mexico which has lead scientists to develop a curiosity as to what other species lurk in the deep depths of the unexplored gulf. (Weisberger)
The American pocket shark was discovered by accident in February by ship (NOAA Pisces) studying sperm whales in the gulf of mexico. (Bronston)
Not much is known about the life of the pocket shark which raises many questions about the species. It can be assumed that shark lives in the dark because of the presents of luminous pores all over its body. And maybe similar to the sperm whale the American pocket shark can dive very deep for long periods of time.
By Hannah Mayes
Figure 1. A picture of the gulf of mexico at sunset. “Twilight Time at the Gulf” by Charles Patrick Ewing ,https://ccsearch.creativecommons.org/photos/c1903543-e2ab-4c73-be4a-1cd140c48ef2
Work Cited
Bronston, Barri.“Researchers identify new species of pocket shark”.Tulane University.July 18, 2019.https://news.tulane.edu/pr/researchers-identify-new-species-pocket-shark.
Weisberger, Mindy.“Adorable Shark Fits in Your Hand, Looks Like a Mini Sperm Whale”.Livescience. July 22, 2019. https://www.livescience.com/65989-american-pocket-shark-new-species.html.
Patrick Ewing,Charles. “Twilight Time at the Gulf” ,https://ccsearch.creativecommons.org/photos/c1903543-e2ab-4c73-be4a-1cd140c48ef2
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