Bizarre New Shark Species Found In Eastern Pacific By Cal State Student

SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) -- A new species of shark -- dubbed the Ninja lanternshark -- has been discovered in the central eastern Pacific Ocean near Central America.

Vicky Vásquez, a Cal State graduate student, and her professors discovered the strange-looking creature, which has been given the scientific name Etmopterus benchleyi in a nod to the author of "Jaws," Peter Benchley.

The lanternshark's jet-black color -- which keeps it camouflaged in deep water -- inspired Vásquez' young cousins to attach "ninja" to its name.

There's one notable attribute the Ninja lanternshark possesses that human ninjas do not: it glows in the dark.

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