NEW SPECIES DISCOVERED IN US WATERS

[Anonymous]

New shark discovered in US waters
‘Cryptic’ shark
The shark prefers to breed in South Carolina waters
A
new type of hammerhead shark has been discovered in the northwestern
Atlantic Ocean, marine scientists say.The shark resembles a common
species called the scalloped hammerhead but has not yet been classified
or named.US researchers say the animal appears to be rare, breeding
only in waters off the South Carolina coast.They believe the shark is
at risk of extinction and conservation efforts are needed to protect
females when they are raising their pups.The shark was discovered by a
biology professor at the University of South Carolina.Dr Joe Quattro
became curious about a common coastal shark called the scalloped
hammerhead shark while studying coastal fish.Genetic studies revealed
that there was a second “cryptic” species – that is, “genetically
distinct” from the scalloped hammerhead.

Nursery grounds
The
shark appears to breed only in waters off South Carolina, although
adults swim into waters off Florida and North Carolina.Small areas of
coastline are significant to certain species and it is so important to
consider shark conservation on an area by area basisAli Hood, Shark
Trust”If South Carolina’s waters are the primary nursery grounds for
the cryptic species and females gather here to reproduce, these areas
should be conservation priorities,” said Dr Quattro.”Management plans
are needed to ensure that these sharks are not adversely impacted so
that we can learn more.”Scientists plan to tag the shark so they can
understand more about its range.Ali Hood, director of conservation at
the Shark Trust in the UK, said with only 454 recorded species of shark
in the wild, it was exciting to discover another one.”It shows how
small areas of coastline are significant to certain species and it is
so important to consider shark conservation on an area by area basis,”
she said.

[Author]

June 13, 2006 at 11:46 AM