One of the most striking cases of animal rediscovery occurred in Papua New Guinea, where it was found again The candle or canine shark (Gogolia Filewoodi) after more than half a century of absence In scientific records. This species, considered one of the most rare in the world, had been last seen in 1973 and, since then, there was no conclusive evidence of its existence, which fed speculations about its possible extinction or, at least, a drastic decrease in its population.
As reported by the specialized site New Scientist, The canine shark is mainly characterized by an unusually large and deep dorsal finwhich highlights notoriously compared to other related species. It was first described in 1973 from a pregnant female captured in Astrolabe Bay, in the waters near the Gogol River. This capture represented for decades the only formal record of the animal. The uniqueness of the first finding and the subsequent silence mark the rare frequency of encounters and the study difficulty of this shark, which from its initial identification to the present had remained, for science, in anonymity.
The rediscovery context was given within the framework of a research project carried out by Jack Sagumai and his team, on behalf of the World Pacific Nature Fund in Papua New Guinea and published in the Journal of Fish Biology. His work was part of the National Action Plan on sharks and stripes, and focused on collecting fishing information directly from local communities. It was in March 2020 when, when checking photographs obtained by fishermen from the area near the mouth of the Gogol River, they detected an image that would reveal a true biological treasure: five small sharks, all with the pronounced dorsal fin characteristic. Subsequently, it was confirmed that they were females, all of less than a meter in length.
The finding raised an international collaboration. With the support of William Whiteof the Organization for Scientific and Industrial Research of Australia CommonwealthPapua New Guinea team was able to confirm the identity of these specimens such as Gogolia Filewoodi, the canine shark long absent from scientific literature. In 2022 another fisherman contributed a new surprise: the capture of a male of the species, also in the immediate vicinity of the Astrolabe Bay. Although this meeting represents the first scientific registry in more than five decades, the inhabitants of the region report having seen them occasionally over the years, mainly when corvines fish near the mouth of the river. According to local observation and researchers, the canine shark seems to prefer deeper waters, staying close to fish that feed in brackish areas.
This restricted presence pattern has led specialists to consider that Gogolia Filewoodi could be a “microendemic” species, that is, its distribution area would be limited to a small region, in this case the Bay of Astrolabe and surrounding areas. However, some scientists such as David Ebertof the San José State UniversityThey shuffle the hypothesis that in the past it could have occupied a much broader range throughout Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and surrounding areas, surviving today only in a small remaining population. The fact that the region also houses other species of microendemic sharks, such as bamboo and epaulette sharks, supports both possibilities.
The biology and real size of the population of Gogolia Filewoodi They still remain unknown, due to the shortage of specimens already studied the rarity of the records. So far, only two deceased copies are preserved at the University of Papua New Guinea, which limits the opportunities for direct analysis. However, the finding has promoted the planning of new efforts in collaboration with researchers from Australia and Florida.
One of the main objectives is to perform a genetic analysis of the sharks found, thus creating a genetic database that allows a more precise monitoring of the population.
This advance is essential to develop effective conservation strategies. DNA analysis will provide key information about genetic diversity, population structure and possible links with other similar sharks in the region. When generating a robust scientific base, the group of researchers hopes to guide the protection of the species and provide necessary actions against potential threats, whether they are derived from local fishing activity, change in aquatic habitats or fluctuation in the abundance of dams on which the shark depends.
The rediscovery of the Vela shark, beyond providing evidence on the resilience of species in little explored environments, underlines the relevance of collaboration between local communities, national researchers and international institutions for conservation and knowledge of marine biodiversity. This reactive finding of scientific interest, feels basis for future research and, above all, gives a second chance to protect one of the most mysterious species of the Pacific Ocean.
