In a historic event, a ghost shark, also known as a chimaera, was spotted during Trinidad and Tobago’s groundbreaking deep-sea exploration, Deep Wonders of Trinidad and Tobago and the High Seas. This expedition marks the country’s first locally led scientific mission to explore its largely uncharted deep ocean. The research vessel RV Falkor is being used for this exploration under the leadership of renowned Trinidadian marine biologist, Dr. Diva Amon.
The ghost shark is a creature of deep intrigue for scientists. Its evolutionary lineage is believed to date back roughly 400 million years, making it one of the oldest surviving groups of jawed fish on Earth. These creatures inhabit the deep, dark depths of the ocean, hundreds to thousands of metres below the surface, where human sightings are extremely rare.
The sighting of a ghost shark in Trinidad and Tobago’s waters is particularly significant, as less than one percent of the nation’s deep-sea environment has been scientifically explored. Researchers expect this expedition to uncover new habitats and potentially, species previously unknown to science. While the spotted ghost shark’s species is yet to be confirmed, scientists are closely examining the collected footage and specimens.
Further adding to the excitement, the expedition has already reported a possible new species of octopus. This underlines how much is still unknown about the country’s deep ocean ecosystems. The exploration continues through July, employing remotely operated vehicles and advanced mapping technology to probe deep-sea habitats such as mud volcanoes, methane seeps and hidden coral ecosystems. This mission is helping create the first comprehensive picture of Trinidad and Tobago’s largest and least explored ecosystem.
