Journal Article
First genetic confirmation of the smooth hammerhead shark ( Sphyrna zygaena , Linnaeus, 1758) in French Polynesian waters
Clémentine J. M. Séguigne; Chloé A. Pupier; Temehani Chand; Julie Grall; Théo Guillaume; Keanu Robert; Claire‐Sophie Azam; Nicolas Buray; Jean‐Marie Jeandel; Alexander Mataarere; Anne‐Marie Trinh; Jodie Rummer
Journal of Fish Biology · Vol. 109, Issue 1 · pp. 605-609 · 2026
Abstract
The smooth hammerhead shark ( Sphyrna zygaena ) has never been formally confirmed in French Polynesian waters. Observations of solitary hammerhead sharks suggested the presence of an unrecorded species. Two specimens captured off Tahiti were morphologically and genetically examined. Both matched traits of the smooth hammerhead and COI barcoding confirmed >99% similarity to reference sequences in the NCBI and BOLD databases. This record extends the known range of S. zygaena to the central South Pacific and highlights the role of citizen observations in detecting rare oceanic sharks, which is important to regional conservation frameworks.
Bibliographic Information
| Journal | Journal of Fish Biology |
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| Publisher | Wiley |
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| Publication Date | 2026-07-01 |
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| Publication Year | 2026 |
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| Volume | 109 |
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| Issue | 1 |
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| Pages | 605-609 |
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| Document Type | Journal Article |
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| Print ISSN | 0022-1112 |
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| eISSN | 1095-8649 |
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| DOI | 10.1111/jfb.70432 |
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| Subject | General Aquaculture, Fisheries & Fish Science |
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