This particular report that Andrew posted the link to calls this object a star-less galaxy because it behaves like and has the properties of a galaxy. If I may quote from the article itself, it says
Quote:
"A dark galaxy is an area in the Universe containing a large amount of mass that rotates like a galaxy, but contains no stars."
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and
Quote:
"This hydrogen is thought to take the form of a flat disc of rotating material - which is what is seen in ordinary spiral galaxies."
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So it may not contain the normal matter that galaxies have but it sure acts like one according to this report.
Whatever it is, it would be interesting to see if they can find other objects like it...