In News:

A team of marine biologists led by a Florida International University researcher has described a new species of the shark genus Sphyrna from the Caribbean and the Southwest Atlantic.

• New Species: Named Sphyrna alleni (common name: shovelbill shark).
• Habitat: Found in coastal waters, estuaries, coral reefs, and seagrass beds from Belize to Brazil, with confirmed presence in:
  • Caribbean: Belize, Panama, Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago.
  • Southwestern Atlantic: Brazil.
• Characteristics:
  • Small species, less than 1.5 m in length.
  • Distinctive flat, shovel-shaped head lacking indentations on the anterior edge.
  • Different from Sphyrna tiburo:
    • More rounded anterior margin.
    • Absence of lobules on the posterior margin.
    • Higher precaudal vertebral count (80-83 vs. ~73 in Sphyrna tiburo).
• Evolutionary Insight: Possible sister lineage to Sphyrna vespertina, suggesting Sphyrna tiburo diverged later.
• Conservation Status:
  • Hammerhead sharks are highly threatened, primarily due to overfishing.
  • Most species, except Sphyrna gilberti, are listed as Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered by the IUCN.
  • Current IUCN assessment of Sphyrna tiburo as Globally Endangered may need reevaluation considering the new findings.
• Management Recommendations:
  • Increased management efforts needed for Sphyrna alleni, particularly restrictions on gillnets and trawls, which significantly impact this species.
• Publication: Findings reported in the journal Zootaxa.