Not a true shark, they have smooth skin and only one gill slit. Very distinctive with its large pectoral fins, whiplike tail and sharp dorsal fin spine, they also lack an anal fin. Small mouth with six plates for teeth.

Free swimmer, found to depths of 745m.

Feed on starfish, shellfish and other invertebrates.

Young hatch from egg cases at about 9-12 cm. Commercially fished. Not really a shark but a primitive fish with similarities. Sometimes sold as pearl fillets. This species makes up more than half the ghost shark caught as bycatch in New Zealand waters.

Deep New Zealand: Batson P