Although this potentially new species looks exactly like what we know to be the bonnet head hammer head shark, genetically it is different, with its differences going back millions of years!
This might not mean much to the average person since they are basically identical visually. But to a marine conservationist (hi!) this means that this could divide the population numbers we thought to be present for a single species, and increasing their CITES rating. Bonnet head hammerhead sharks are currently listed as least concern, but by dividing the population we will potentially increase the status of two species to threatened, endangered, or higher. This would support creating more marine conservation areas and greater laws to protect the ocean environment where these species live.
I wish we didn’t need the species to be endangered before protecting the environment on this scale, but I will take it.
Scientists report possible new hammerhead shark species
Published
wishwhale 