Story highlights
- Ninja lanternshark discovered by Cal State grad student and professors
- Shark was named by four children
(CNN)It's not often that someone discovers a new species, especially when it's been under their nose for years.
A shark collected during a research expedition in 2010 turns out to be a ninja lanternshark, a brand new species of shark, so named because it is all black, which is how a ninja is typically dressed.
The scientific name is Etmopterus benchleyi, a reference to "Jaws" author Peter Benchley.
Grad student Vicky Vasquez and Dr. Douglas J. Long wrote about their findings after being asked to take a closer look at the shark (along with her professor, Dr. David A. Ebert of the Pacific Shark Research Center at Cal State).
Photos: Best sharks in pop culture
Photos: Best sharks in pop culture
You've survived the cultural phenomena that were the first and second "Sharknado" movies without a bite. Ian Ziering and Tara Reid returned with the Syfy channel's "Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!" on Wednesday, July 22. Click through to see more of our favorite sharks in pop culture.
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