Live Shark Embryo Squirms Inside Egg Case Off Puerto Rico

A remote-operated deep sea research vessel captured images of a live embryo suspected to be a catshark moving inside an egg case west of Puerto Rico’s Desecheo Island on November 15, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.

The embyro was spotted at a depth of 250 meters (820 feet) by the NOAA’s ROV Deep Discoverer, according to the Facebook page for its ship, Okeanos Explorer.

“The embryo is likely that of a catshark in the genus Scyliorhinus, which are known to lay their egg cases on benthic organisms like corals (seen here) and sponges. We have observed adult catsharks in this area during both the 2018 and 2015 Océano Profundo expeditions,” the page said. Credit: NOAA/Inner Space Center via Storyful