G-g-g-ghost shark?

September 24, 2009 7:28 PM

A newly identified species of Chimaera is patrolling the waters off of California and Baja California.

California has a new star, the Eastern Pacific black ghostshark. But the newly identified species prefers to stay out of the sun—and the spotlight. And with a club-like sex organ on its forehead, the male ghostshark isn't likely to get any leading man roles.

The Florida Museum of Natural History has better photos of its Australian relative.
posted by darkstar (15 comments total)

"These organs.... may be used to stimulate a female or to pull her closer."

So I suppose that makes hands sex organs also. Anything to get a headline, eh?
posted by binturong at 7:48 PM on September 24, 2009

Gh-gh-gh-ghost shark! Zoinks!
posted by 2bucksplus at 7:51 PM on September 24, 2009 [5 favorites]

So he's a real dickhead?
posted by Mick at 7:57 PM on September 24, 2009

In related news, Barry White evidently helps get male zebra sharks in the mood...though "some guests have been a little alarmed."
posted by darkstar at 8:00 PM on September 24, 2009

You know, I have one simple request. And that is to have sharks with frickin' laser beams penises attached to their heads.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 8:02 PM on September 24, 2009 [1 favorite]

That was amazing, thank you for posting!
posted by effluvia at 8:04 PM on September 24, 2009

Interesting post.

Thanks for reason #2,612 to stay out of the ocean. Here is my personal #1 scariest looking thing in the ocean.
posted by marxchivist at 8:10 PM on September 24, 2009 [1 favorite]

The newfound ghostshark belongs to the "big black chimaeras,"...

I tried to find out more but my Google search "big black weird sex organ" was not enlightening!
posted by battlebison at 8:22 PM on September 24, 2009 [1 favorite]

Once long ago I had to write a functional morphology paper on the extinct Stethacanthus shark. Some people think the head dentition may have played a role in mating.
posted by rosswald at 8:23 PM on September 24, 2009 [2 favorites]

From Cracked: 13 Real-Life Animals Lifted Directly From Your Nightmares.
posted by hifiparasol at 10:39 PM on September 24, 2009 [2 favorites]

This reminds me of some old horror comic.

"In this issue, the penis-headed ghostshark that stalks the Californian waters! Only 25 cents!"
posted by fearthehat at 11:09 PM on September 24, 2009

"These organs.... may be used to stimulate a female or to pull her closer."

Most male humans also dedicate a substantial part of their heads to those purposes...
posted by Skeptic at 2:27 AM on September 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

"Most male humans also dedicate a substantial part of their heads to those purposes..."

Yet this substantial part is neither "retractable" nor does it "resemble a spiked club at the end of a stalk." I think we are poorer as a species because of this.
posted by moonbiter at 3:16 AM on September 25, 2009

This one was clearly designed by Roger Dean
posted by TedW at 5:06 AM on September 25, 2009

We saw a Chimaera in Honduras. They are really graceful when they are swimming. I wouldn't worry too much about running into one while snorkeling, though.
posted by snofoam at 6:47 AM on September 25, 2009 [1 favorite]