Researchers have discovered a new hammerhead shark species in the Caribbean and Southwest Atlantic, named after the late Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen, a champion of shark conservation. This discovery sheds light on the importance of protecting small shark species and the vital role they play in coastal communities.
Uncovering a Hidden Gem
The species, Sphyrna alleni, had been previously hidden in plain sight and misidentified as the Smalleye Bonnethead (Sphyrna tiburo) for a number of years. Courtesy of Cindy GonzalezIt took DNA sequencing and physical analysis for the team, part of Florida International University (FIU) led by Dr. Cindy Gonzalez and Dr. Demian Chapman, to notice the minute differences between two species.
A critical figure in this discovery has been Gonzalez, a marine ecologist from Colombia. She was studying bonnethead sharks in Panama for her master’s research: “Despite the differences in habitat, we were seeing some patterns overlap with what they had been showing in Florida,” she says; this prompted Sulikowski to collaborate with Chapman, her PhD advisor. The unwavering determination and exhaustive research by the team, as well as well-informed local shark fishers in Belize, finally suggested this new species be known.
Conservation Superstar Honored by Obama
The new shark species was named in memory of late Paul G. Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft and lifelong advocate for shark conservation. The research that led to the discovery of Sphyrna alleni, meanwhile, relied on Allen’s support for funding for the Global FinPrint project, a global survey of reef sharks that is home in part at Nova Southeastern University.
From his protection of ocean ecosystems to initiatives that have called for the threatened status of shark species within CITES, Allen’s impact is wide-ranging. The finding of likely an endangered new species is a reminder of Allen and his foundation’s work to protect the oceans and the life that inhabits it.
Conclusion
The Sphyrna alleni, that old extinct shovelbill shark I really wish you were here to see. The discovery of a new species is an exciting and positive step, but unfortunately the small size of this shark most likely signifies that other similar species are under threat due to overfishing and habitat degradation. But at the same time, it was a chance to educate on just how important these often disregarded but essential building blocks of coastal ecosystems are. By following in the footsteps of conservation pioneers like Paul G. Allen, we can celebrate his legacy by providing a better future for species like the shovelbill shark and many other small sharks all over the world.
