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Second Ever Super-rare Pocket Shark Discovered

Posted by timothy on from the can-the-jaguar-shark-be-far-behind? dept.

The Grim Reefer writes: Scientists working off the coast of the US have found something pretty incredible — the second pocket shark ever discovered, some 36 years after the first one was spotted off the coast of Peru. The team, from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), say the tiny creature — which measures just 13 cm (5.5 inches) long — was caught off the coast of Louisiana, where they were observing the feeding habits of sperm whales. It belongs to the genus Mollisquama, which has earned itself the nickname 'pocket shark', not because of its pocked-sized dimensions, but because of the unique and rather mysterious orifice it has above its pectoral fin.

16 of 27 comments (clear)

  1. We... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    We killed it, right?

    1. Re:We... by ChromeAeonium · · Score: 4, Informative

      Well duh. It might have been packing a concealed laser in that pocket.

      But really now, that's in TFA. It was collected and frozen five years ago as part of a study on sperm whale food, and was only later found among the frozen catch. So yeah, it's dead and people killed it, and that really sucks, but it wasn't intentionally and specifically targeted to be killed.

    2. Re:We... by jellomizer · · Score: 1

      Well just because we don't have many of them them on record, it doesn't mean they are endangered or rare. There is a lot about marine biology that we do not know about.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
  2. sperm whale food by tomhath · · Score: 2

    Maybe the reason they're so rare is because Sperm Whales find them tasty

  3. Sheldon knows what he's talking about. by NMBob · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    The pocket thing is an upper flureman.

  4. no it will be sucked up into a tornado by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    and we will see a lot of them.

  5. Big deal by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

    Have you ever seen the even more rare one-eared elephant?

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
    1. Re:Big deal by paulhar · · Score: 1

      How does it fly?

    2. Re:Big deal by GNious · · Score: 1

      How does it fly?

      Circular

  6. Do the locomotion by Whiteox · · Score: 3, Funny

    "but because of the unique and rather mysterious orifice it has above its pectoral fin...."

    Must be the intake manifold. Did they find the exhaust?

    --
    Don't be apathetic. Procrastinate!
  7. To hell with the tiny shark by Nutria · · Score: 1

    What I want to know is why the hell there's a sperm fscking whale off the coast of Louisiana!!!

    --
    "I don't know, therefore Aliens" Wafflebox1
    1. Re:To hell with the tiny shark by Gr8Apes · · Score: 1

      What I want to know is why the hell there's a sperm fscking whale off the coast of Louisiana!!!

      No kidding, I read that and went "Someone appears to be off on their geography"

      --
      The cesspool just got a check and balance.
  8. Gotta catch 'em all... by mjm1231 · · Score: 1

    Though really, I don't think I need another water type against the Elite Four.

    --
    Ideology: A tool used primarily to avoid the bother of thinking.
  9. Re:It's so Adorable! by Gr8Apes · · Score: 1

    Looking to score the next Score:5, Funny

    Whiff

    --
    The cesspool just got a check and balance.
  10. The Ocean Produced Something Not Terrifying??? by SoVi3t · · Score: 1

    Now how do we weaponize it? Ah yes, the afforementioned lasers. Perfect, I expect several of these guarding my apartment by Christmas.

    --
    Defender of Microsoft and Communism!!!
  11. Pocket Protector Shark by marciot · · Score: 1

    The even more elusive pocket protector shark is humored to exist, but is unlikely to ever be seen, as it dreads swimming out in the open ocean.