Rare shark species thought to be extinct rediscovered after decades
Species thought to be wiped out by overfishing – until now
- The sailback houndshark, Gogolia filewoodi, a species believed to be wiped out due to overfishing, has been sighted for the first time in over five decades in Papua New Guinea.
- Scientists documented six new individuals of this extremely rare shark, previously known only from a single specimen described in the 1970s.
- The sightings occurred in 2020 and 2022 near the Gogol River mouth in Madang, Papua New Guinea, based on surveys of catches by local artisanal and subsistence fishers.
- Researchers highlight that the species, endemic to Papua New Guinea, possesses a unique evolutionary lineage and is classified as 'data deficient' by the IUCN due to a lack of information.
- The findings suggest the shark's geographic range is likely restricted, making it susceptible to population declines from increased fishing, and underscore the importance of artisanal surveys in poorly studied regions.