A strange item was discovered ashore on a Tasmanian beach in Australia. The bizarre and alien-like discovery was later identified as a marine species.
Bizarre Discovery Considered an Important Sighting
A black capsule was found on Bakers Beach, located on the state's northern coast. The local who found it was wondering what it was, so they took a snap of the object and shared it online.
Several reacted, comparing it to fictional predators from sci-fi movies, joking that it was an alien. However, it turned out to be a natural specie related to sharks.
Apparently, it was an "elephant fish egg." According to CSIRO Research Technician Helen O'Neill, elephant fish typically lay their eggs on a soft surface, and the egg sticks to the dirt. It prevents it from being carried away by tides and waves, Yahoo! News reported.
Scientists can put together facts about the animal thanks to the sighting, even though the egg in issue appears to have been carried away by currents.
According to O'Neill, in situations like these, they serve as a calling card for their past travels. You may argue that particular species exist there. Moreover, they are procreating nearby. It might be a crucial nursing area.
Sharks breed and give birth to young in certain locations that are better for survival, just like other animals do. It's a crucial habitat for the species because of the discovery.
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is a national science organization in the country. Its initiative, called Great Eggcase Hunt, encourages the citizens to find and record eggs they find on the coast to help researchers.
What's an Elephant Fish?
Elephant fish have oddly shaped bodies and nearly scaleless exteriors. They have two dorsal fins and huge pectoral fins. A substantial spine comes before the first dorsal fin. Elephant fish have a single gill hole on each side before the pectoral fin. Pores on the snout are utilized to detect prey and detect weak electrical fields and movement.
They go by the names ghost shark, whitefish, or plow nose chimera in popular culture, according to the Australian Government.
They have a snout resembling a hoe and are silvery with dark markings. The eyes are prominent and positioned high on the head. The top lobe of the tail fin is larger than the bottom lobe, which is separated into two lobes.
They have a maximum growth potential of 1.2 meters and 7 kilograms. Males are smaller than females. They live for approximately 15 years.
Elephant fish can be found in depths of 200 meters on the continental shelf and in shallow bays and huge estuaries. Juveniles live in shallow coastal waters for around three years before progressively moving into deeper seas as they age. Ghost sharks show up in groups according to gender.
RELATED ARTICLE: Sharks Sleep Too But With Both Eyes Open, Contrary to Their Reputation of Being Always on the Move
Check out more news and information on Sharks in Science Times.
