Expert Confirms Presence of Scalloped Hammerhead Shark in Tubbataha

Puerto Princesa City — After identifying the previously unrecorded Mobula japonica, a manta ray look-alike in Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP), the Large Marine Vertebrates (LAMAVE) Project Philippines confirmed Wednesday the sighting in the marine park of the scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) .

Also known as bronze, kidney-headed or southern hammerhead, the shark species was documented using the remote underwater video (RUV) deployed at the Wall Street, a dive location at the North Atoll of Tubbataha, by LAMAVE Project Director Ryan Murray and park rangers on March 16.

The scalloped hammerhead shark, according the Tubbataha website posted statement Wednesday, was documented some 30 feet below for nearly two hours reportedly accompanied by 19 individual sharks – seven blacktips, seven whitetips, and four gray reefs.

“Interestingly, the presence of the scalloped hammerhead shark in Tubbataha was previously unconfirmed. The video proves without a doubt that this species thrives in park waters as well,” the statement said.

Studies of the scalloped hammerhead shark state that it is “a coastal pelagic species that occurs over continental and narrow shelves and in nearby deeper water.”

It is reported that as of 2008, the shark is on the “globally endangered species list.”

Shark and manta research is being conducted in Tubbataha as a partnership with LAMAVE, “a consortium of national and international NGOs with the aim of promoting conservation through scientific research and education. A shark expedition is in the offing in May 2015.”

Earlier, LAMAVE and the Tubbataha Management Office (TMO) jointly announced the identification of Mobula japanica – a first in the history of the protected reefs –“from hundreds of video footages taken since October last year.

Mobula japonica is classified under Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays). (PNA) RMA/CARF/EDS