In the depths of the Caribbean Sea, a unique shark was filmed for the first time, as previous sightings were only of dead specimens (video).

The ocean covers a vast majority of the planet, yet it remains one of the most underexplored areas on Earth. Fortunately, advancements in technology have enabled scientists to learn more about the depths of the ocean and the creatures that inhabit its most remote corners, as reported by IFLScience.

In a recent study, underwater technology allowed researchers to capture the first-ever footage of a rough shark swimming in the depths of the Caribbean Sea. During an expedition near Little Cayman Island, scientists employed a deep bait underwater video system to discover the creatures lurking beneath the water's surface in this region.

On August 13, 2023, researchers deployed the system at a depth of 1,054 meters and recorded a rough shark (Centroscymnus owstonii) approaching to investigate the bait. Notably, the bait consisted of 500 grams of sardines. The study's authors highlight that this marks the first recorded sighting of a live rough shark in the Greater Antilles, in the central Caribbean Sea. They also note that the observation of the shark sets a new record for the species' location in the Cayman Islands.

This species was originally identified around the Japanese Islands, but researchers now believe it has a patchy global distribution. It is known that individuals of this species can grow to about 120 centimeters in length.

Interestingly, most ecological knowledge about the rough shark has been derived from specimens accidentally caught by fishermen. During the new expedition, scientists initially spotted one individual and then two more. In total, the researchers documented the shark swimming in front of the camera 54 times, resulting in 11 minutes of recorded footage.

Besides being the first recording of rough sharks in the Caribbean, the footage actually represents the first-ever sighting of this species in the Cayman Islands.