A team of marine biologists led by researchers at Florida International University has described a new species of shark. Sphyrna Native to the Caribbean and Southwest Atlantic.
It got its name from the unusual and unique shape of its head. hammerhead shark Belongs to the family Sphinidae.
They live all over the world and prefer to live in warm waters along coastlines and continental shelves.
“The hammerhead shark is a monophyletic lineage of hammerhead sharks that first appeared in the Miocene,” said Florida International University researchers. Cindy Gonzalez her colleagues from the United States and Canada;
“They are characterized by a laterally expanded and dorsoventrally compressed head or 'cephalic lobe' and currently include nine named species. ”
“Hammerhead sharks are one of the most endangered shark families, with all but one species present, primarily due to overfishing.Svirna Gilberti) listed worldwide as vulnerable, endangered speciesor endangered species by IUCN,” they added.
“There are four species of small hammerhead sharks (less than 1.5 meters in length at first maturity) that are endemic to the Americas. Sphyrna Tiblo, Sphyrnatitude, Sphyrna Coronaand Sphyrnamedia”
“Sphyrna Corona Occurs only in the eastern Pacific, Sphyrnatitude It occurs only in the western Atlantic Ocean and is associated with the bull shark (Sphyrnamedia) and bonito shark (Sphyrna Tiblo). ”
The newly described Sphyrna This is a small hammerhead shark, less than 1.5 meters long.
with scientific name Svirna Areni (common name is shovel shark), has a flat, shovel-shaped head with no indentation at the front end.
“Svirna Areni different from Sphyrna Tiblo “This is because in this species the leading edge of the head is more rounded and the trailing lobule is absent,” the researchers said.
“The importance of the precaudal vertebrae is as follows.” Svirna Areni Between 80 and 83 – about 10 more vertebrae than others Sphyrna Tiblo”
“Given that there is some similarity in the shape of cephalofoils, Svirna Areni and Sphyrna Vespertina They may be sister lineages; Sphyrna Tiblo It diverged from and later separated from them as it expanded into the subtropics and temperate Atlantic Ocean. Sphyrna Vespertina and early Svirna Areni By isthmus closure. ”
Svirna Areni It is found in coastal waters, estuaries, coral reefs, seaweed beds, and sandy bottoms from Belize to Brazil.
The presence of this species has been confirmed in the Caribbean in Belize, Panama, Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, and in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean of Brazil.
“Bonnet Head is currently rated as globally endangered However, the IUCN rates it as an amphibious American species,” the scientists said.
“This assessment highlights that while this species is well managed in high latitudes of the northern hemisphere Atlantic range (USA, Bahamas), it is heavily fished and poorly managed elsewhere. There is evidence of population decline in Brazil and much of the tropical eastern Pacific.
“We will re-evaluate this assessment taking into account geographic distribution.” Sphyrna Tiblo and Svirna Areni Now that is guaranteed,” they said.
“Given how fisheries and management are distributed, the IUCN status is probably Sphyrna Tiblo it will be improved, Svirna Areni Of course, it would be a very dangerous situation. ”
“Additional attention from management is needed to rebuild the population.” Svirna AreniThis could take the form of restrictions on gillnet and trawl fishing, as these types of gear account for most of the catch of this coastal species. ”
discovery of Svirna Areni is reported in paper in a diary zoo animals.
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Cindy Gonzalez others. 2024. Svirna Areni sp. In November, new hammerhead sharks (Hammellidae, Hammerheadidae) from the Caribbean Sea and the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. zoo animals 5512 (4): 491-511;doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.5512.4.2
Source: www.sci.news
