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.
That’s Deep Blue, they think she’s the biggest white shark ever filmed
Of course it’s a girl. She’s beautiful and I’ll keep my hands inside the cage at all times
I…I love her.
My daughter is beautiful and strong.
her dorsal fin is longer than a full grown adult but I in all my 5’2" glory still wants to protect her
I am, I believe, the reasonable amount of scared of sharks that a smart soft mammal should be, but I definitely just said “whos a big pretty girl” at the screen.
Thank you, tumblr, for reminding me that things I’m afraid of are beautiful too.
So I got curious and look this giant up and found this picture of the diver high fiving her as she passed. According to the article, not only is Deep Blue big but in the picture she’s super pregnant too.
wishwhale 