“Unveiling the Abyss: The Historic Capture of Roughskin Dogfish Shark’s First Live Footage!”

The roughskin dogfish shark, a member of the shark family, which has never been observed alive previously, was recently detected in the unexplored regions of the Cayman Islands. Scientists characterized their initial sighting of the shark as a “shadow swimming just outside the (camera’s) detection range,” as noted in various reports.

Experts from the Cayman Islands Department of Environment and project collaborator, Beneath the Waves, employed a baited remote underwater video system (BRUVS) to monitor the dogfish shark live. The researchers documented two inquisitive individuals at a depth of 1,045 meters during a deep-sea exploration from 2022 to 2024.

Significance of roughskin dogfish’s live footage

The finding of the roughskin dogfish shark, reported in the Journal of Fish Biology, is crucial as it offers the first live images of this species, which was previously recognized only from deceased specimens. Reportedly, the group of scientists who identified the dogfish shark aimed for these findings to promote conservation initiatives to safeguard the biodiversity of the Cayman Islands.

According to conservationists, live footage of any specimens aids in recognizing vital habitats and migration routes of various species in the animal kingdom.

Scientists involved in the discovery of the roughskin dogfish

A multidisciplinary team of researchers, including Olivia Dixon, Shannon Aldridge, Johanna Kohler, Anne Veeder, Paul Chin, Teresa Fernandes, Timothy Austin, Rupert Ormond, Mauvis Gore, Diego Vaz, and Austin Gallagher spearheaded the discovery. Their specialized knowledge and application of cutting-edge technologies such as the BRUVS system have established new standards for deep-sea investigation.

Traditional techniques such as fishing and trawling, often used for deep-sea exploration, typically harm marine ecosystems. In contrast, video-based systems like the dBRUV enable researchers to study species with minimal ecological disruption.