IT'S stalked the deep for millions of years – but only now can we see this terrifying ghost shark in the wild.

The creature, which is believed to be predatory, was found 6,700ft deep by a remotely operated submarine. With deathly pale flesh, vacant eyes and gently waving fins, it moves through the deep like a spectre. And it's far more widespread than suspected; being sighted north of the equator for the first time.

MBARI SPECTRAL: The pointy-nosed blue chimaera has never before been filmed alive in the wild

“It would come up and bounce its nose off the lens and swim around” Dr Dave Ebert Experts say this type of ghost shark is the pointy-nosed blue chimaera, usually found near New Zealand or Australia. This footage – the first of the species alive in its natural habitat – was taken near the US states of California and Hawaii. Dave Ebert, from the Pacific Shark Research Center at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, said the sub wasn't even looking for wildlife. He told National Geographic: "The guys doing the video were actually geologists. Normally, people probably wouldn’t be looking around in this area."

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Unlike many creatures of the deep, he said, the predator was not shy around the glaring lights and actually touched the submarine. "It’s almost a little comical," he added. "It would come up and bounce its nose off the lens and swim around and come back." The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, which released the video, compared the ghost shark with its famous cousin.

MBARI CLOSE ENCOUNTER: The creature feeds off of smaller fish in the depths of the ocean