A Distinctive Look

The Angular roughshark (Oxynotus centrina) stands out with its unique, angular body shape that is unlike any other shark. Its body has a distinctive humped, almost pyramid-like appearance due to its high, triangular dorsal fins and compressed, thickset torso. The first dorsal fin, located just behind the head, is particularly tall and prominent, while the second is slightly smaller. These large fins give the shark its sharp-edged, almost boxy profile, which contrasts with the streamlined bodies of most other sharks.

The study, led by Michael J. Williamson, analysed data from over 700,000 shark detections across the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean between 2013 and 2020. It reveals that grey reef sharks are showing signs of distress. As coral ecosystems are impacted more and more by pollution and climate change, these sharks are reducing their time on the reefs. Instead, they are expanding their ranges and spending more time away from their ranges.

The Salish Sea is home to two unique populations of orcas: the northern and southern residents. While the northern population has slowly rebounded to over 300 individuals, the southern residents remain critically endangered, with their numbers stuck at around seventy-five.

The reasons behind the southern orcas' struggle to recover have been well-documented—reduced salmon runs, pollution, and past capture for entertainment purposes. Now, new research suggests another key culprit: human-made underwater noise.