{"id":3632,"date":"2020-07-16T17:38:00","date_gmt":"2020-07-17T00:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/?p=3632"},"modified":"2025-07-16T17:45:02","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T00:45:02","slug":"faq-what-is-the-american-pocket-shark-mollisquama-mississippiensis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/faq-what-is-the-american-pocket-shark-mollisquama-mississippiensis\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQ: What Is the American Pocket Shark (Mollisquama mississippiensis)?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Move over, great white\u2014there\u2019s a tiny shark in town, and it\u2019s carrying something unexpected: pockets. Meet the Mollisquama mississippiensis<\/em>, better known as the American pocket shark. This elusive and mysterious little creature is one of the ocean\u2019s strangest discoveries.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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What is the American Pocket Shark?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The American pocket shark (Mollisquama mississippiensis<\/em>) is a rare and tiny species of deep-sea shark, measuring just 5.5 inches (about 14 cm) long. It belongs to a group known as Dalatiidae<\/em>, or kitefin sharks, which includes several deep-sea species. This pocket shark was first described in 2019, based on a single specimen collected in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why is it called a \u201cpocket\u201d shark?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The name comes from the presence of two small slit-like openings, or “pockets,” located near its front fins (behind the gills)<\/strong>. These pockets aren\u2019t for storing snacks\u2014scientists believe they may release a luminous fluid, possibly to confuse predators or attract prey. This feature is not<\/em> found in most other sharks and adds to the mystery of its biology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Where was it discovered?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The only known specimen was caught during a NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) survey in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico<\/strong>, at a depth of around 1,000 feet (300 meters). That makes it a deep-sea dweller, likely living in the dark, cold waters of the outer continental shelf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How is it different from other pocket sharks?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Before the American pocket shark was discovered, scientists had only one other specimen of the pocket shark genus<\/strong>\u2014the Mollisquama parini<\/em>, found in the eastern Pacific Ocean off the coast of Chile. The American pocket shark is a different species<\/strong>, distinguished by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Fewer vertebrae<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Different teeth shapes<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Distinct body proportions<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Size and shape of the pockets<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    It\u2019s like discovering a brand-new model of a car that no one knew existed before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Is it bioluminescent?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Very likely\u2014yes. Many deep-sea sharks can produce light using photophores<\/strong>, special light-producing organs. The American pocket shark is covered in these photophores, which might help it camouflage<\/strong>, communicate<\/strong>, or hunt<\/strong> in the dark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    How rare is it?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Incredibly rare. Only one specimen<\/strong> of Mollisquama mississippiensis<\/em> has ever been found. It was preserved and studied for years before scientists realized it was a completely new species. Because of this, almost nothing is known<\/strong> about its behavior, reproduction, or population size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Can I see one in an aquarium?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Not a chance (yet). These sharks live in deep, hard-to-reach waters and are extremely rare. The only known specimen is housed at the Tulane University Biodiversity Research Institute<\/strong>, and it’s not alive\u2014it\u2019s a preserved specimen used for study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Why does this discovery matter?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The discovery of the American pocket shark highlights how little we know about the deep sea<\/strong>. Even in U.S. waters, entirely new species are waiting to be found. Studying animals like this can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    • Expand our understanding of marine biodiversity<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Help us learn how animals survive in extreme conditions<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Provide clues about the health of deep-sea ecosystems<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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      TL;DR<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      The American pocket shark (Mollisquama mississippiensis<\/em>) is a rare, tiny, deep-sea shark discovered in the Gulf of Mexico. It gets its name from mysterious pocket-like glands near its fins that may release glowing fluid. Only one specimen has ever been found, making it one of the most elusive sharks in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Even in the age of satellites and smartphones, the ocean still keeps its secrets\u2014and sometimes, those secrets fit in the palm of your hand.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      The only known specimen of\u00a0Mollisquama mississippiensis<\/em><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      <\/div>\n\n\n\n