Abstract
<p>The Scalloped hammerhead shark, <em>Sphyrna lewini</em> is a coastal and pelagic circumglobal species that resides within coastal warm temperate and tropical seas. <em>Sphyrna lewini</em> exhibits strong intraspecific segregation: neonates and young-of-the-year spend the first part of life in coastal inshore waters (nursery grounds), while adults migrate offshore, returning to protected nursery habitats for mating and pupping. On December 3, 2014, at approximately 19:00 hr, four young-of-the-year <em>S. lewini</em> were caught with hand line in Wafer Bay, Isla del Coco, Costa Rica (5°32’42.4” N - 87°03’45.3” W). A total of three males (total length (TL): 73, 73, 76 cm) and one female (TL: 75 cm) were recorded. The presence of these individuals at Isla del Coco suggests that a pregnant female gave birth in or near Wafer Bay, which may be a nursery ground for <em>S. lewini</em>. We recommend further study to evaluate the presence and movements of young-of-the-year and juvenile <em>S. lewini</em> in Wafer Bay to determine if this was an isolated incident or if the bay is a nursery ground for <em>S. lewini</em>.</p><div> </div>
Highlights
The Scalloped hammerhead shark, Sphyrna lewini (Griffith & Smith, 1834) is a coastal and pelagic circumglobal species that resides within coastal warm temperate and tropical seas (Bigelow, & Schroeder, 1948; Compagno, Krupp, & Schneider, 1995)
Schools of females S. lewini are known to inhabit areas near several oceanic islands within the Eastern Tropical Pacific, such as Isla del Coco, Galápagos Islands and Malpelo (Hearn, Utreras, & Henderson, 2010)
We conclude that the S. lewini captured in Wafer Bay most likely have not completed the first year of life. The presence of these individuals at Isla del Coco suggests that a pregnant female gave birth at Wafer Bay, which may be used as a nursery ground for S. lewini
Summary
The Scalloped hammerhead shark, Sphyrna lewini (Griffith & Smith, 1834) is a coastal and pelagic circumglobal species that resides within coastal warm temperate and tropical seas (Bigelow, & Schroeder, 1948; Compagno, Krupp, & Schneider, 1995). Abundance of S. lewini in Isla del Coco Nationa Park, Costa Rica, has decreased by approximately 45 % during the last 21 years (White, Myers, Flemming, & Baum, 2015). Sphyrna lewini is caught by different fisheries in oceanic (longlines) and coastal waters (artisanal), as consequence of the strong spatial segregation between adults and juveniles.
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