A 14-foot pregnant great hammerhead shark was found dead along a beach in Alabama. While researchers have not concluded the cause of the creature's death, the endangered species' passing is suspected to be linked to fishing mortality.
Dead 14-Foot Pregnant Hammerhead Shark
A necropsy revealed that the hammerhead shark had 40 unborn babies inside of her, as per Live Science.
The pregnant great hammerhead shark was spotted on April 20 off the coast of Orange Beach. Some passersby spotted the huge lifeless creature and pulled it onto the shore. They then reached out to the coastal resources team of the city for the corpse's recovery.
Live Science notes that the pregnant great hammerhead shark's condition was quite good. Hence, authorities reached out to the Marine Fisheries Ecology (MFE) group of the Mississippi State University, as reported by USA Today. These specialists then conducted a necropsy on the creature the following day.
It was through this necropsy that the pregnant great hammerhead shark was found to have been carrying 40 babies. The city officials note that both the babies and the mother may have already been dead even before the 14-foot creature washed up on the shore.
Moreover, as part of the necropsy, the specialists removed and looked into the creature's vital organs. These include its liver, heart, spleen, stomach, esophagus, pancreas, and kidneys. Live Science reports that no signs of trauma or illness were observed in these body parts.
The specialists also sent samples of fins, vertebrae, and muscle tissue for further lab analysis.
The great hammerhead was found to have an empty stomach. Though this is typically a "red flag" when it comes to necropsy, these creatures are known to survive without food for several months when pregnant. Hence, this did not come as a shock.
Though the shark's passing is a saddening occurrence, the city officials note that the specimen could help scientists know more about their reproduction.
ALSO READ: Critically Endangered Hammerhead Shark Spotted Further South of Australia Where They Are Rarely Seen
Suspected Cause of Death: Fishing
While the researchers from the MFE were unable to pinpoint the exact cause of the pregnant hammerhead shark's passing, they suspect that it may be due to fishing. They note how these creatures are more vulnerable, compared to other sharks, to physiological effects of the stress that comes with capture. They also add that pregnancy can make the stress even worse.
Based on the Red List of Threatened Species of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), great hammerheads are considered critically endangered species. Their classification was so since 2018. Live Science adds that estimates regarding their global population are unclear. However, their numbers are thought to plummet each year.
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