The new species of hammerhead, the Carolina hammerhead, looks virtually identical to the Scalloped hammerhead, shown here. Photo: Shutterstock
A team of researchers from the University of South Carolina has discovered a rare new breed of hammerhead shark.
Despite the fact that the ocean covers more than 70% of the Earth’s surface, we have only laid eyes on five percent of it. An astounding 95% remains unexplored, meaning there is so much we have yet to encounter. Experts add that up to two-thirds of plant and animal species in the world’s oceans have yet to be discovered.
Researchers at the University of South Carolina are taking a step forward in narrowing the number of yet undiscovered ocean animals. Earlier this month, a team led by Professor Joe Quattro discovered the new species of hammerhead sharks, dubbed the Carolina hammerhead, or Sphyrna gilbert. Though visually identical to the common scalloped hammerhead, the Carolina hammerhead has 10 fewer vertebrae. Its outward appearance allowed it to swim among the scalloped hammerheads without anyone noticing.
Shark populations have been on the decline for decades, and hammerheads are no exception. Dr. Quattro expressed his concern in discovering a new species within an already endangered species. “If threatened or endangered status is an issue now, and there are cryptic species within those taxa, then by simple math, things are in far worse shape,” he explained to Southern Fried Science.
While this new discovery is exciting, it shouldn’t alarm surfers or swimmers. According to the Florida Museum of Natural History, from 1580 to 2012, there have been only 17 attacks on humans by hammerheads, with none of them fatal. The shark tends not to be aggressive towards humans unless provoked.
