Two shark species sighted for the first time in the Galapagos

[FfFfFfFF 58,062]

The camera slid from the crew’s hands and into the cold water, sinking towards the inky darkness and out of view after a few seconds. “Buena suerte,” someone said, wishing the camera luck and hoping the expensive piece of equipment would return after its voyage to the deeper waters of the Galápagos Marine Reserve. 

The crew hoped for the camera to capture a surprise or two... it never expected to see what it did.

Officially confirmed by elasmobranch taxonomist Dr. David Ebert at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, the team happily announced that for the first time, broadnose sevengill (Notorynchus cepedianus) and bluntnose sixgill (Hexanchus griseus) sharks have been observed in the deep waters of the Galápagos Marine Reserve. 

Both of these sharks are in the Hexanchidae family, also referred to as the “cow sharks.” Most are found along the continental shelves and slopes down to submarine canyons that can get up to at least 6,151 feet (1,875 meters) deep.

These observations provide scientists with new information about their territorial range and habitat preferences. Some hope that these sightings will help inform the creation of fully protected deep-water areas in the Galápagos Marine Reserve, as well as guiding the management of fisheries and Marine Protected Areas that may be affecting the sharks.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/melissacristinamarquez/2021/01/06/two-shark-species-sighted-for-the-first-time-in-the-galapagos/?sh=1d6683626dfa

[Schwerk 7,453]

The deep sea is so fascinating and scary, but that second shark has the cutest little smile.

[Rahrahbitchson 23,167]

Guess no other island is doing it like Galapagos. A queen of her genre 

[JusKeepBreathin 19,311]

Are they now sharks because they don't have dorsal fins?

[TaylorSwift 162,285]

19 minutes ago, FfFfFfFF said:

cow sharks.