Video above: Tail end of shark week celebrated at Shark Con
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Researchers have confirmed the existence of a new species of shark in South America.
The shovellbill shark, Sphyrna alleni, was hiding in plain sight due to its resemblance to the bonnethead shark, named Sphyrna tiburo.
Researchers, led by Mote Marine Laboratory Director and co-lead of the Global FinPrint shark survey Demian Chapman, worked with local fishermen to document the species. They learned it differs from the bonnethead shark because of its head shape, number of vertebrae and its DNA profile.
“These fishers are deeply knowledgeable and inquisitive about marine-life, so it was a joy to work alongside them,” said Cindy Gonzalez, Florida International University researcher and native Colombian marine ecologist.
Gonzalez turned her apartment into a makeshift laboratory when the COVID-19 pandemic restricted international travel.
“It is imperative to study and protect small hammerhead shark species as they are unique to the American continent and have been extirpated, overfished, and misidentified in fisheries,” Gonzalez said. “At the same time, these sharks have played a critical role in shaping the culture and economy of many local communities in many Latin American countries, so it is important to work hand-to-hand with the fishermen on conservation efforts.”
The new species was named after philanthropist and co-founder of Microsoft Paul G. Allen, whose foundation funded the initiative. He funded several shark conservation initiatives, such as listing threatened species under the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species.
“It is tragic that we have only just recognized that this species exists, and we are already running against the clock to prevent its extinction,” Chapman said. “Fortunately, Belize has taken proactive steps for shark conservation that may help this species, such as collaborating closely with shark fishing communities to manage shark catches, establishing protected areas, and implementing a nationwide gillnet ban.”
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Publish date : 2024-09-23 06:16:00
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