Scientists have noted severe population declines of hammerhead sharks in the Northwest Atlantic, in the Mediterranean Sea, in the Caribbean sea, and in Australia and South Africa. Scalloped hammerhead sharks have a homing behavior to navigate in the ocean. As an apex predator (with a … #IMCCsharks : An IMCC Symposium on Current and Emerging Issues in European Shark Conservation, Science and Conservation Media Literacy 101. Scalloped hammerhead sharks have became the first species of shark to be protected by the U.S. Please consider submitting a public comment for one or both species following the instructions above, and please let me know if you’ve done so by commenting on this blog post. - scalloped hammerhead shark stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images deep water cleaning stations attracting hammerhead sharks, san benedicto, revillagigedo, mexico - scalloped hammerhead shark stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images scalloped hammerhead sharks (sphyrna lewini), darwin island and arch, galapagos islands, ecuador. WhySharksMatter and his lab attaching a satellite tag to a great hammerhead shark in the Florida Keys. The most distinguishing characteristic of this shark is it's "hammer-shaped" head. But these schools sometimes number as many as 200 individuals, which is very unusual for a species of sharks. The Endangered Species Act and Marine Animals: To List or Not To List? The smooth hammerhead — Sphyrna zygaena — has a slightly curved head, but can be easily identified by its lack of a notch or scallop at the midpoint of its head. While I agree with considering scalloped and great hammerheads for ESA protection, I think the real value here is “goosing” NMFS into enacting some more aggressive management actions for these species. Figure 1B from Hammerschlag et al. Their fins are highly valuable, and their habit of forming regular, large groups makes it easy for fishers to take all of the individuals from a large area by fishing the right place at the right time. Endangered Species Act, one of the world’s strongest wildlife conservation laws. But we still do not understand the nature and extent of their importance as marine predators. Hammerhead shark, (family Sphyrnidae), any of 10 shark species belonging to the genera Sphyrna (9 species) and Eusphyrna (1 species), which are characterized by a flattened hammer- or shovel-shaped head, or cephalofoil. The hammerhead sharks are a group of sharks that form the family Sphyrnidae, so named for the unusual and distinctive structure of their heads, which are flattened and laterally extended into a "hammer" shape called a cephalofoil. Like humans, hammerhead sharks are long-lived, reach maturity after several years, and have few babies. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! David, has your team noticed some mortality of your tagged hammerhead after tagging, if yes, what is the mortality rate and after how long after release? THE WINGHEAD SHARK … Why are Scalloped Hammerheads important? 6) Scalloped hammerhead sharks are especially vulnerable to overfishing because of their mating aggregations. The scalloped hammerhead — Sphyrna lewini — has a much more pronounced notch, or scallop, at the midpoint of its head, which is also more curved. Scalloped hammerheads swim off the Galápagos Islands. I personally would rather see if future management actions are sufficient before bringing in the “nuclear option” of the ESA. 2006). Female sharks give birth to litters of 30 or so pups, and there is a gestation period of approximately ten months. On stifling scientific curiosity, in the most egregious way possible. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. I strongly believe that both of these species of hammerhead sharks need and qualify for Endangered Species Act protections. The hammer-like shape of the head means that hammerhead sharks can sweep for prey more effectively. One theory is that the enlarged head allows the animal to have increased sensory abilities. We are restoring the world’s wild fish populations to serve as a sustainable source of protein for people. An ESA listing is not something to be taken lightly and has serious implications for research and coastal development as well as the fishery. We have already protected nearly 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done. Scalloped hammerhead sharks are moderately large sharks with a global distribution. They move in the night and use the environment as a map, similar to a human reading a topographical map. NMFS is just now getting around to working on hammerheads and is proposing very low quotas or possible prohibited status, motivated in no small part by the threat of listing. One could even call it smooth. They are sensitive to light and because of their enhanced social behavior, these sharks are found closer to shore lines during the day and mostly remain in deep seas during the night. A great way to get involved in protecting #oceans: Join Oceana as a Wavemaker & sound off on important issues! It is […] I’m belgian, and I don’t live in the US. Sharks rely on numerous senses to find food, navigate through the ocean, reproduce, and other activities. Hammerhead sharks, or sphyrnids, are perhaps the most distinctive and unique of all sharks. By experimentation in tagging these sharks, one could test for any guidance in a shark's movement. Yes, we have noticed some mortality after tagging, which caused us to revise our handling procedure to the current (much faster) method. 8 ) Many countries do not report their catch at the species level, complicating data analysis. Commenting on this blog post does not count as submitting a public comment, and neither does commenting on a Facebook post about this blog post. Scientists are unsure why scalloped hammerheads form these occasional large groups, while maintaining solitary lifestyles for much of the time in between, but they seem to be social animals for at least part of the year. Although the meat is sold, this species is also highly regarded for its fins and hides. This is an independent and apolitical assessment made by expert scientists from around the world. Electroreceptive organs enable sharks to sense weak electrical fields given off by potential prey. In this stunning clip from Mission Galapagos, biologist and presenter Liz Bonnin goes scuba diving with scientists who are studying the complex mating rituals of scalloped hammerhead sharks at Darwin’s Arch in the Galápagos Islands.As they observe from the ocean floor, a school of around 600 scalloped hammerhead sharks appears. 1) Both great and scalloped hammerheads are considered Endangered by the IUCN Shark Specialist Group. The scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) is a species of hammerhead shark, and part of the family Sphyrnidae.Originally known as Zygaena lewini, its genus name was later changed to its current name.The Greek word sphyrna translates into "hammer" in English, referring to the shape of this shark's head. 2) Hammerheads have suffered some of the most severe reported population declines of any species of sharks. ESA is definitely a last resort. 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