Deep‑sea vehicles capture footage of unusual sharks in Pacific abyss

Deep‑sea remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) operating in the central Pacific have captured video of several previously undocumented shark specimens at depths exceeding 2,000 metres, a zone where light does not penetrate and temperatures hover near freezing. The footage, obtained during a joint expedition by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, shows the sharks possessing elongated, translucent bodies, oversized eyes, and a series of bioluminescent spots along their dorsal ridges—features that have prompted researchers to describe them as “alien‑like” compared with known deep‑water shark taxa.

Scientists are analyzing the high‑definition recordings to determine whether the animals represent new species within the family Etmopteridae or a distinct lineage altogether. Preliminary genetic samples collected by the ROVs suggest significant divergence from the closest known relatives, indicating a potentially unique evolutionary adaptation to the extreme pressures and perpetual darkness of the abyssal Pacific. The discovery underscores the limited understanding of deep‑sea biodiversity and is expected to guide future exploratory missions aimed at cataloguing life forms that thrive far below the ocean’s surface.