A rare Pocket Shark was discovered by NOAA and Tulane researchers, only the second ever to be seen.

Pocket Shark Measures 5.5 Inches

Interestingly enough, researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) revealed they recently found the 5.5-inch shark from a sample they originally collected in 2010 while studying sperm whale food. The sample was frozen five years ago, and researchers only just found the little shark. Known as the Pocket Shark, the specimen is classified as a ‘Mollisquama’ and was nicknamed ‘pocket shark’ for its pocket-like mark above the fin.

“The pocket shark we found was on 5 and a half inches long and was a recently born male. Discovering him has us thinking about where mom and dad may be, and how they got to the Gulf. The only other known specimen was found very far away, off Peru, 36 years ago,” said NOAA’s Mark Grace in a statement.

The first pocket shark ever seen was, in comparison, an adult female, and measured 15 inches.

Article by Olivia Truffaut-Wong

Olivia Truffaut-Wong was born and raised in Berkeley, California, where she developed her love of all things entertainment. After moving to New York City to earn her degree in Film Studies, she stayed on the East Coast to follow her passion and become an entertainment writer. She lives on a diet of television, movies and food.