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A smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena) from south-west England

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 January 2009

Emily J. Southall  and
David W. Sims
Emily J. Southall
Affiliation:
Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
David W. Sims*
Affiliation:
Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: David W. Sims, Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK email: dws@mba.ac.uk
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Abstract

The first confirmed record of a smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena) in British waters for 140 years is described. The head section of the specimen was found washed ashore in relatively good condition at Portreath, south-west England, in December 2004. Evidence suggests it was not a fishery discard, and, like most other previous records of this species in British waters, probably came ashore moribund or dead.

Keywords

Sphyrna zygaenasmooth hammerhead sharkPortreathSW England
Type
Research Article
Information
Marine Biodiversity Records , Volume 1 , January 2008 , e9
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2006

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References

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