Northerly range expansion and first confirmed records of the smalltooth sand tiger shark, Odontaspis ferox, in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
David J CurnickRob DeavilleJenny R BortoluzziLuke CameronJeanette CarlssonJens CarlssonHaley R DoltonCat A GordonPhil HosegoodAlicia NilssonMatthew W PerkinsKevin J PurvesSimon SpiroMarco VecchiatoRosie WilliamsNicholas L PaynePublished in: Journal of fish biology (2023)
Three Odontaspis ferox (confirmed by mtDNA barcoding) were found in the English Channel and Celtic Sea in 2023 at Lepe, UK (50.7846, -1.3508), Kilmore Quay, Ireland (52.1714, -6.5937) and Lyme Bay, UK (50.6448, -2.9302). These are the first records of O. ferox in either country, and extend the species' range by over three degrees of latitude, to >52°N. They were ~275 (female), 433 (female), and 293 cm (male) total length, respectively. These continue a series of new records, possibly indicative of a climate change induced shift in the species' range. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.