A rare baby ghost shark has been discovered by scientists in New Zealand

As reported by BBC News, ghost sharks - also known as chimaera - are rarely spotted, and sightings of their young are even more uncommon.

They are not actual sharks, but a species of fish closely related to sharks and rays, and the vast majority inhabit the deep sea.

The young shark was collected at a depth of about 1.2km (0.7 miles) underwater near the South Island.

Dr Brit Finucci, a member of the team that found it, said the discovery was made by accident while conducting a research trawl of underwater populations.

She spoke to the BBC on the topic, saying: "Deep water species are generally hard to find, and like ghost sharks in particular, they tend to be quite cryptic

"So we just don't see them very often."

The scientists from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research believe the baby shark had recently hatched as its belly was still full of egg yolk.

Dr Finucci said that study would be undertaken of the fish, with small tissue samples being taken and measurements being made.