Costa Rican researchers say they may have identified a new species of ghost shark in Pacific waters near Cabo Blanco and Cano Island. According to Arturo Angulo Sibaja, a biology professor at the University of Costa Rica, the putative new species has distinguishing physical traits, including a shorter snout, a darker coloration pattern, and a longer spine on its dorsal fin. Sibaja adds that this would be the only ghost shark species known to occur along the Central American coast. The findings are based on observations of specimens collected in the region, alongside genetic analysis. The genetic results, as described by Sibaja, indicate the shark does not reproduce with other related species, supporting the interpretation that it represents a separate species. Coverage of the discovery in multiple outlets focuses on the combination of morphological differences and genetic evidence. Both reports describe the location of the find and the characteristic traits cited by the researchers, though they do not provide additional details on formal taxonomic naming, sample size, or full peer-reviewed publication status.