Deep-water observation of scalloped hammerhead Sphyrna lewini in the western Indian Ocean off Tanzania. (24th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moore, Alec B.M.; Gates, Andrew R.
• Is Part Of: Marine biodiversity records. Volume 8(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-06-24
• Subjects: shark, -- elasmobranch, -- bathypelagic, -- Ruvuma Basin, -- vertical migration; Marine biodiversity -- Periodicals; Marine biology -- Periodicals; 578.77
• DOI: 10.1017/S1755267215000627
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1755-2672

Abstract

Abstract : A scalloped hammerhead Sphyrna lewini was observed opportunistically from a remotely operated vehicle 1 m off the seabed at 1042 m depth, during hydrocarbon exploration activities in the Ruvuma Basin off Tanzania. The observation, which occurred during night hours, is the deepest accurately recorded for this species and the first deep-water record for the Indian Ocean. The record adds support for the occurrence in deep water during night hours being a widespread and possibly common behaviour in this species, and further expands a small but growing literature that meso- and bathypelagic environments may be of greater importance to elasmobranchs previously considered to be primarily epipelagic.