New shark discovered in US waters (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

A new type of hammerhead shark has been discovered in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, marine scientists say.

The shark resembles a common species called the scalloped hammerhead but has not yet been classified or named.

US researchers say the animal appears to be rare, breeding only in waters off the South Carolina coast.

They believe the shark is at risk of extinction and conservation efforts are needed to protect females when they are raising their pups.

The shark was discovered by a biology professor at the University of South Carolina.



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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5065510.stm

[xchrom]

1. nature always has a delight tucked somewhere up her sleeve.

[Kutjara]

2. Does the shark have a Green Card?

If not, throw it back where it belongs! Damned illegal fish.

[havocmom]

3. LOL Anything to do with ...

ah, nevermind :evilgrin:

[parasim]

4. The Jaguar Shark?

Seems to me I saw a documentary about that recently...

[Up2Late]

5. I HAVE A NAME! The CLAW HAMMERHEAD Shark!

You heard it here first folk! I want credit if they use it! :evilgrin: :bounce:

[ncrainbowgrrl]

6. Now, if someone could figure out if it is a "people friendly shark"

I'd be happier going to to the beach...

[tocqueville]

7. must be Delay "the hammer" that went swimming nt

[Occulus]

8. "They believe the shark is at risk of extinction"

Based upon?

Questions: how long does it take for a new species to develop from an existing one when that original species is under stress from changes in its natural environment?

Suppose we humans suddenly faced a nuclear winter, or even just globally cooler temperatures. Suppose the reverse: warming. Assume continued food and water supply, lack of a pandemic, and no impact event. Basically, assume an extended global cooling or warming.

How many generations might it take the human species to adapt to the new conditions, i.e., how long might it take for humans to get harier/less hairy as a result of temperature change? Furthermore, would our sexual preferences play a role in that change (I would say yes, and strongly)?

Could the human species ever again naturally adapt to an environmental change, or would we intentionally breed out harier mates "because they're ugly"? Might our consciousness, our sentience, interfere with our adaptation to environmental changeas a species?

Did perhaps the hammerhead change with its environment? Have we actually seen evolution in action here?

[oneighty]

9. Interesting

In the coastal waters of South Carolina we frequently caught 'baby' Hammerheads on hook and line (And in trawl nets) Many of them wound up on dinner tables-or otherwise deceased.

By 'baby' I mean about a foot to eighteen inches in length.

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