A scientist has documented the first recorded sighting of a baby kitefin shark off the coast of Albania, marking a significant addition to knowledge about this rarely observed species. Andrej Gajić spent seven months in 2024 monitoring the catch from commercial deep-sea trawlers based out of Vlorë, systematically searching for kitefin sharks.
Gajić’s research involved nearly 200 days at sea with two trawling vessels and included inspections of catches from other ships while docked. Over the course of his study, he analyzed more than 1,800 batches of specimens. His efforts led to the discovery of two kitefin sharks: one neonate and one juvenile.
“Kitefin sharks are ‘one of the least studied shark species in the Adriatic Sea, where only a few documented records exist,’” Gajić stated in his study published August 28 in Environmental Biology of Fishes. He described their appearance as having “dark coloration, rough skin, large green eyes” and noted that they possess a bioluminescent belly which may help them capture prey.
The baby shark measured about 13 inches long and weighed approximately 4.5 ounces. According to Gajić, it is “the first recorded neonate in the Adriatic Sea, representing the smallest free-ranging individual documented to date.” The specimen still had a healing umbilical scar on its belly.
The second kitefin shark found was slightly larger at about 19 inches long and weighing around one pound. Dissection revealed an inner layer of skin on their bellies with a “distinct light blue coloration.”
Gajić wrote that these young sharks provide “insights into the early life-stage development and feeding ecology of the species, as well as highlighting the need for further investigations.” The findings also indicate that “the species’ occurrence in the deep waters of the southern Adriatic may be more widespread than previously acknowledged,” suggesting that habitats off Vlorë could be critical for this species.
Vlorë is located along Albania’s southwestern coast near Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.
