Genetic tests reveal new shark species
ABC News Australia
December 4, 2004
Genetic testing has shown that an animal scientists thought was the common ornate wobbegong is actually a new species of shark.
Charlie Huveneers says scientists originally thought that the dwarf-like shark was a juvenile wobbegong.
"We first thought the small wobbegong was a juvenile of the large ornate wobbegong shark but then realised there were some differences with the major one," he said.
The new species has so far only been found on Australia's east coast.
Now that scientists have confirmed that there are three types of wobbegong that call Australian waters home, they now want to see how many more are out there.
Luciano Beheregaray, of Macquarie University, says that numbers of the species are in decline, and action needs to be taken to preserve them.
"The numbers are one-third of what they used to be 10 years ago," he said.
"It's important for us to understand how these populations are distributed along the east coast in order to propose effective management strategies."
Crucial to the protection of the shark is learning more about the shark's migration.
Scientists are doing that by analysing the genes of individual wobbegongs, which is by far the most accurate way of finding out.
"We can even see where a particular individual came from if we have sample of the population of that individual," Mr Beheregaray said.
Scientists hope this research may help fast track a conservation plan for the sharks.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200412/s1258049.htm
