'Giant luminous shark': researchers discover three deep-sea sharks glow in the dark - The Guardian

Discovery off New Zealand includes kitefin shark, which at up to 180cm is now biggest-known luminous vertebrate.

Scientists studying sharks off New Zealand have discovered that three deep-sea species glow in the dark – including one that is now the largest-known luminous vertebrate.

The kitefin, which can grow to 180cm, is now the largest-known luminous vertebrate: what researchers referred to as a “giant luminous shark”.

Jérôme Mallefet, lead researcher from the Marine Biology Laboratory of the Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium, said: “The luminous pattern of the Kitefin shark was unknown and we are still very surprised by the glow on the dorsal fin?