We ask you, urgently: don't scroll past this
Dear readers, Catholic Online was de-platformed by Shopify for our pro-life beliefs. They shut down our Catholic Online, Catholic Online School, Prayer Candles, and Catholic Online Learning Resources essential faith tools serving over 1.4 million students and millions of families worldwide. Our founders, now in their 70's, just gave their entire life savings to protect this mission. But fewer than 2% of readers donate. If everyone gave just $5, the cost of a coffee, we could rebuild stronger and keep Catholic education free for all. Stand with us in faith. Thank you.Help Now >
What is this creature lurking in the depths? Geologists stumble upon shocking discovery
FREE Catholic Classes
Dumb luck led a group of geologists to what the Greeks once called a "chimaera."
Highlights
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
12/19/2016 (8 years ago)
Published in Green
Keywords: Ghost shark, camera, first time, deep-sea
LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The chimaera, or "ghost shark," appears to be stitched together by a madman's hand.
It's dead, pale eyes are large orbs on the side of its patchwork face and its mouth hides within a series of folds across its snout and jaw.
The pointy-nosed blue chimaera was discovered in 2009 but the footage was held by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.
A paper written by Lonny Lundsten and his colleagues of the same Institute was released alongside the footage.
Back in 2009, geology researchers repeatedly sent a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) into the depths of central California and Hawaii.
Footage was captured as deep as 6,700 feet. Several amazing creatures and habitats were revealed but the ghost shark, also known as a "water bunny," left researchers in awe.
Lundsten reported the findings with three chimaera experts who agreed the strange fish was a pointy-nosed blue chimaera.
The institute claimed the only true way to verify whether the beast they captured on camera was a real chimaera, the fish would need to be captured and hauled to the surface for a proper inspection.
"This is much easier said than done," the institute explained, "because these fish are generally too large, fast, and agile to be caught.
"If and when the researchers can get their hands on one of these fish, they will be able to make detailed measurements of its fins and other body parts and perform DNA analysis on its tissue.
"If these animals turn out to be the same species as the ghost sharks recently identified off California, it will be further evidence that, like many deep-sea animals, the pointy-nosed blue chimaera can really get around."
The pointy-nosed blue chimaera was first discovered in 2002 by researcher Dominique Didier Dagit, who found it near Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia.
She named it Hydrolagus trolli after Alaskan artist Ray Troll due to their shared love for ghost sharks. Dagit joked the fish even looks like Troll, though with considerably less facial hair.
---
'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'
Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.

Novena for Pope Francis | FREE PDF Download
-
- Stations of the Cross
- Easter / Lent
- 5 Lenten Prayers
- Ash Wednesday
- Living Lent
- 7 Morning Prayers
- Mysteries of the Rosary
- Litany of the Bl. Virgin Mary
- Popular Saints
- Popular Prayers
- Female Saints
- Saint Feast Days by Month
- Pray the Rosary

Pope Francis’ Final Message to Young People

Pope Francis’ Final Journey Through Rome: A Farewell Full of Symbols and Grace

Hagia Sophia: The 1,600-Year-Old Megastructure Where Heaven and Earth Still Meet
Daily Catholic
Daily Readings for Tuesday, April 29, 2025
St. Catherine of Siena: Saint of the Day for Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Prayer for the Dead # 3: Prayer of the Day for Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Daily Readings for Monday, April 28, 2025
St. Peter Chanel: Saint of the Day for Monday, April 28, 2025
- Prayer before a Crucifix: Prayer of the Day for Monday, April 28, 2025
Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.