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Never Seen Before Two-Headed Sandbar Shark Found Off Brazilian Coast
12-11-2020
2020
Wacky animals
An extremely rare two-headed shark found by fishermen off the Brazilian coast is baffling experts. Researchers believe it is the first ever recorded example of a Siamese twin sandbar shark. The two-headed specimen was found just off Brazil's south-eastern coast, between the municipalities of Itanhaem and Peruibe, by fishermen who handed it over to a local marine biology institute called Ibimm. Scientists at the institute examined the Siamese twin sharks, and found they had two hearts and two independent spinal columns. Ibimm's Tatiane Goncalves told Real Press: "Today, the pollution of the seas, mainly from oil-derived products, has a major impact on marine fauna. Sharks are toxin-accumulating animals and we already have several proven studies on this. These toxins can cause serious problems in animals and also in those that eat their contaminated meat. We will now begin a study to analyse the cells and organs to try to arrive at a conclusive study." Another theory the team is working with is that the abnormality may have arisen due to problems in the uterus of the mother, as compression of the uterus can cause one egg to merge with another. Goncalves explained to Real Press that such rare specimens do not tend to last long in the wild. She said: "They become easy victims for other predators, including other sharks. In captivity, they could live, I believe, for two or three years." As to why an increasing number of two-headed fish are being found in recent years, Goncalves told Real Press: "Every day the oceans and seas become more polluted. It's a lot of rubbish. If we continue at this rate, we will soon have more rubbish than animals in the environment and more abnormalities appearing in sharks. They are appearing more frequently. We published another article about another species where eight babies appeared with deformed caudal fins." The team at Ibimm hopes that the find will help raise awareness about the serious problems facing marine environments. Goncalves told Real Press: "The study and report of this type of occurrence are important to draw the attention of world governments to the fact that something is happening, that new public policies for international cooperation must be taken to urgently protect marine environments. "Sharks are the targets of international fishing and now with the emergence of new cases of abnormalities in the species, it may be that if we do not change our attitudes, we will soon no longer have any sharks in the seas and oceans of the planet." Sandbar sharks are native to the Atlantic Ocean and the Indo-Pacific. Their conservation status is 'vulnerable', according to the IUCN. (T4/ends)
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captionThe two headed shark 'Squalus acanthias' that can be considered the first case of Siamese twins of this species in the world. (IBIMM/Real Press)
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captionBrazilian scientists have identified the world's first two-headed shark found by a fishermen near the coast, on the border between Itanhaem and Peruibe, on the coast of Sao Paulo. (IBIMM/Real Press)
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file nameRealPress-TwoHeadedShark-10.jpg
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captionBrazilian scientists have identified the world's first two-headed shark found by a fishermen near the coast, on the border between Itanhaem and Peruibe, on the coast of Sao Paulo. (IBIMM/Real Press)
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file nameRealPress-TwoHeadedShark-13.jpg
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captionThe two headed shark 'Squalus acanthias' that can be considered the first case of Siamese twins of this species in the world. (IBIMM/Real Press)
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file nameRealPress-TwoHeadedShark-12.jpg
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captionBrazilian scientists have identified the world's first two-headed shark found by a fishermen near the coast, on the border between Itanhaem and Peruibe, on the coast of Sao Paulo. (IBIMM/Real Press)
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file nameRealPress-TwoHeadedShark-09.jpg
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captionBrazilian scientists have identified the world's first two-headed shark found by a fishermen near the coast, on the border between Itanhaem and Peruibe, on the coast of Sao Paulo. (IBIMM/Real Press)
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file nameRealPress-TwoHeadedShark-06.jpg
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captionThe two headed shark 'Squalus acanthias' that can be considered the first case of Siamese twins of this species in the world. (IBIMM/Real Press)
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file nameRealPress-TwoHeadedShark-08.jpg
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captionThe two headed shark 'Squalus acanthias' that can be considered the first case of Siamese twins of this species in the world. (IBIMM/Real Press)
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file nameRealPress-TwoHeadedShark-05.jpg
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captionThe inside of the two headed shark 'Squalus acanthias' that can be considered the first case of Siamese twins of this species in the world. (IBIMM/Real Press)
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file nameRealPress-TwoHeadedShark-04.jpg
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captionThe two headed shark 'Squalus acanthias' that can be considered the first case of Siamese twins of this species in the world. (IBIMM/Real Press)
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file nameRealPress-TwoHeadedShark-14.jpg
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captionThe two headed shark 'Squalus acanthias' that can be considered the first case of Siamese twins of this species in the world. (IBIMM/Real Press)
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file nameRealPress-TwoHeadedShark-02.jpg
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captionBrazilian scientists have identified the world's first two-headed shark found by a fishermen near the coast, on the border between Itanhaem and Peruibe, on the coast of Sao Paulo. (IBIMM/Real Press)
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file nameRealPress-TwoHeadedShark-01.jpg
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captionBrazilian scientists have identified the world's first two-headed shark found by a fishermen near the coast, on the border between Itanhaem and Peruibe, on the coast of Sao Paulo. (IBIMM/Real Press)
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file nameRealPress-TwoHeadedShark-03.jpg
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captionThe two headed shark 'Squalus acanthias' that can be considered the first case of Siamese twins of this species in the world. (IBIMM/Real Press)
