<p>Scientists have discovered a new species of ghost shark in the waters of New Zealand. The fish is rare and extremely hard to spot as it lives in the deep Pacific Ocean.</p>

<p>When it was first discovered the scientists from the National Institute for Water and Atmospherics (NIWA), New Zealand thought it to be an existing species. However, upon further examination, it was revealed that the species was new and genetically unique.</p>

<h2>The ghostly 'spookfish'</h2>

<p>Ghost sharks, also known as chimaera or spookfish, can be identified by their unusually long and sharp noses and whip-like tails. Often referred to as the ocean's butterfly for how they navigate in water with large pectoral fins, the species do not have scales and are closely related to sharks and rays. They have cartilage skeletons and feed on crustaceans like molluscs and shrimp.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/will-marine-life-disappear-in-the-oceans-as-they-continue-to-become-too-acidic-scientists-say-761470">Will marine life disappear in the oceans as they continue to become too acidic? Scientists say...</a></strong></p>

<p>The new species, Australasian Narrow-Nosed spookfish, only resides in New Zealand and Australian waters.</p>

<p>"Their habitat makes them hard to study and monitor, meaning we don't know a lot about their biology or threat status," said Dr Brit Finucci, one of the scientists who discovered Australasian Narrow-Nosed spookfish.</p>

<p>The fish is only found in New Zealand and Australian waters and is known to live at a depth of up to 2,600 metres.</p>

<p>"Chimaeras are quite cryptic in nature – they can be hard to find in the deep ocean … and they generally don’t get the same attention sharks do, when it comes to research."</p>

<p>The new species of ghost shark was found about 750 km east of New Zealand’s coast in Chatham Rise, an ocean floor area.</p>

<p>The fish can reach a length of up to a metre and has milky-coloured eyes. This chocolate-brown fish was identified for its elongated snout which can make up half of its body's length.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/creepy-sounds-are-echoing-through-mariana-trench-and-we-now-know-the-cause-760710">Creepy sounds are echoing through Mariana Trench, and we now know the cause</a></strong></p>

<p>About 55 species of ghost sharks have been identified across the world, 12 of which are found in South Pacific and New Zealand waters.</p>

<p>"It’s really neat to be able to contribute to science," she said. "Understanding the animal itself can feed into further research and whether they need conservation management."</p>

<h2>A homage to 'ancient relative'</h2>

<p>Finucci has named the species Harriota avia, giving her discovery a personal touch, Harriotta being the name of her grandmother.</p>

<p>"Avia means grandmother in Latin, I wanted to give this nod to her" Finucci explained, adding that her grandmother had supported her career throughout. "Sharks and ghost sharks are the old, ancient, relatives of fish, and I was naming the animal after an ancient relative of mine."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Scientists have discovered a new species of ghost shark in the waters of New Zealand. The fish is rare and extremely hard to spot as it lives in the deep Pacific Ocean.

Scientists have discovered a new species of ghost shark in the waters of New Zealand. The fish is rare and extremely hard to spot as it lives in the deep Pacific Ocean. When it was first discovered the scientists from the National Institute for Water and Atmospherics (NIWA), New Zealand thought it to be an existing species. However, upon further examination, it was revealed that the species was new and genetically unique. The ghostly 'spookfish' Ghost sharks, also known as chimaera or spookfish, can be identified by their unusually long and sharp noses and whip-like tails. Often referred to as the ocean's butterfly for how they navigate in water with large pectoral fins, the species do not have scales and are closely related to sharks and rays. They have cartilage skeletons and feed on crustaceans like molluscs and shrimp. Also read | Will marine life disappear in the oceans as they continue to become too acidic? Scientists say... The new species, Australasian Narrow-Nosed spookfish, only resides in New Zealand and Australian waters. "Their habitat makes them hard to study and monitor, meaning we don't know a lot about their biology or threat status," said Dr Brit Finucci, one of the scientists who discovered Australasian Narrow-Nosed spookfish. The fish is only found in New Zealand and Australian waters and is known to live at a depth of up to 2,600 metres. "Chimaeras are quite cryptic in nature – they can be hard to find in the deep ocean … and they generally don’t get the same attention sharks do, when it comes to research." The new species of ghost shark was found about 750 km east of New Zealand’s coast in Chatham Rise, an ocean floor area. The fish can reach a length of up to a metre and has milky-coloured eyes. This chocolate-brown fish was identified for its elongated snout which can make up half of its body's length. Also read | Creepy sounds are echoing through Mariana Trench, and we now know the cause About 55 species of ghost sharks have been identified across the world, 12 of which are found in South Pacific and New Zealand waters. "It’s really neat to be able to contribute to science," she said. "Understanding the animal itself can feed into further research and whether they need conservation management." A homage to 'ancient relative' Finucci has named the species Harriota avia, giving her discovery a personal touch, Harriotta being the name of her grandmother. "Avia means grandmother in Latin, I wanted to give this nod to her" Finucci explained, adding that her grandmother had supported her career throughout. "Sharks and ghost sharks are the old, ancient, relatives of fish, and I was naming the animal after an ancient relative of mine." (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists discover new species of rare ghost shark in New Zealand waters

<p>A rare silver coin, believed to be 2,500 years old, has been unearthed near the holy town of Jerusalem. The find indicates that early currency was indeed used in ancient Judea, conclude archaeologists.</p>

<p>The coin dates back to the fifth or sixth century B.C. when Achaemenid Persians used to rule Judea. The coin, unearthed recently, was found cut in half so that it could be valued for its weight. Experts point out that only a handful of such coins have been discovered so far.</p>

<p>"The coin is extremely rare, joining only half a dozen coins of its type that have been found in archaeological excavations in the country," Robert Kool, a coin expert at the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), said in a statement.</p>

<p>"The coins were minted in a period when the use of coins had just begun," he added.</p>

<h2><strong>Where was the coin found?</strong></h2>

<p>The coin was discovered during an excavation meant for expanding a roadway at a place about 16 kilometres southwest of Jerusalem. The area used to be a rural region in the ancient Kingdom of Judea, which had its capital at Jerusalem.</p>

<p>Not just the coin, the remains of a "four room house," a traditional dwelling during this period, were also unearthed at the site, and the archaeologists also discovered a spherical sheqel weight — just under half an ounce (11 grams) — in one of the rooms.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Scientists welcome new antibiotic that kills drug-resistant bacteria CRAB</strong></p>

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<p>The rare discoveries illustrate the evolution of trade in Judea, transitioning from weighing silver pieces to the use of coins during this era, as stated by Kool.</p>

<h2><strong>Where did the coins originate?</strong></h2>

<p>These early coins, originating from regions like ancient Greece, Cyprus, and Turkey, began appearing in the land of Israel in the sixth and fifth centuries BCE, according to Kool.</p>

<p>Despite this, the fact that the coin was deliberately broken in two, allowing each half to be valued based on its silver weight, indicates that the universal adoption of coins was not yet prevalent during this period—a practice now recognised as "hacksilver" or "hacksilbur."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/us-police-warn-against-life-threatening-knock-the-door-tiktok-trend-681534"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;US: Police warn against life-threatening knock-the-door TikTok trend</strong></a></p>

<p>The coin, featuring a square stamp on one side, contrasts with later coins that employed more sophisticated techniques, resulting in raised stamped images rather than sunken ones, as highlighted in the statement.</p>

<p>Eli Escusido, the IAA's director, emphasised the significance of visual details, inscriptions, and dates on early coins as vital sources of archaeological information.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A rare silver coin, believed to be 2,500 years old, has been unearthed near the holy town of Jerusalem. The find indicates that early currency was indeed used in ancient Judea, conclude archaeologists.

A rare silver coin, believed to be 2,500 years old, has been unearthed near the holy town of Jerusalem. The find indicates that early currency was indeed used in ancient Judea, conclude archaeologists. The coin dates back to the fifth or sixth century B.C. when Achaemenid Persians used to rule Judea. The coin, unearthed recently, was found cut in half so that it could be valued for its weight. Experts point out that only a handful of such coins have been discovered so far. "The coin is extremely rare, joining only half a dozen coins of its type that have been found in archaeological excavations in the country," Robert Kool, a coin expert at the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), said in a statement. "The coins were minted in a period when the use of coins had just begun," he added. Where was the coin found? The coin was discovered during an excavation meant for expanding a roadway at a place about 16 kilometres southwest of Jerusalem. The area used to be a rural region in the ancient Kingdom of Judea, which had its capital at Jerusalem. Not just the coin, the remains of a "four room house," a traditional dwelling during this period, were also unearthed at the site, and the archaeologists also discovered a spherical sheqel weight — just under half an ounce (11 grams) — in one of the rooms. Watch: Scientists welcome new antibiotic that kills drug-resistant bacteria CRAB × The rare discoveries illustrate the evolution of trade in Judea, transitioning from weighing silver pieces to the use of coins during this era, as stated by Kool. Where did the coins originate? These early coins, originating from regions like ancient Greece, Cyprus, and Turkey, began appearing in the land of Israel in the sixth and fifth centuries BCE, according to Kool. Despite this, the fact that the coin was deliberately broken in two, allowing each half to be valued based on its silver weight, indicates that the universal adoption of coins was not yet prevalent during this period—a practice now recognised as "hacksilver" or "hacksilbur." Also read: US: Police warn against life-threatening knock-the-door TikTok trend The coin, featuring a square stamp on one side, contrasts with later coins that employed more sophisticated techniques, resulting in raised stamped images rather than sunken ones, as highlighted in the statement. Eli Escusido, the IAA's director, emphasised the significance of visual details, inscriptions, and dates on early coins as vital sources of archaeological information. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Extremely rare’ 2,500-year-old broken silver coin unearthed near Jerusalem

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Scientists discover new species of rare ghost shark in New Zealand waters

‘Extremely rare’ 2,500-year-old broken silver coin unearthed near Jerusalem