Scientists exploring off Vancouver Island discovered a live, active underwater volcano teeming with up to a million egg cases of the deep-sea Pacific white skate, revealing how volcanic heat creates a unique nursery environment that accelerates embryo development and supports marine life in the abyss.
Scientists have discovered a new species of deepwater catshark, Apristurus ovicorrugatus, from northwestern Australia, identified by unique egg cases found in an Australian museum in 2011. The egg cases have strong T-shaped ridges, and the shark has bright white eyes, which are unusual among deep-water organisms. Researchers used molecular analysis to identify the species and named it after the corrugated egg cases that led them to the discovery.
A new species of deep-sea shark with shiny white irises has been identified decades after a dead pregnant female of the species was first collected off the coast of Western Australia. The newfound species, Apristurus ovicorrugatus, was named after its corrugated egg cases that led to its discovery. The egg cases were found attached to corals, suggesting the species may rely on these organisms for reproduction. The discovery highlights the importance of egg case shape to identifying species, and researchers are scouring museum collections for more new species to see what else curators have overlooked or misidentified.