The Bigeye Houndshark is a species that is not well known but worthwhile and contributes highly towards understanding marine species and ecosystem functioning. This article seeks to understand this species by examining its classification, habits, geography, etc. Looking at the adaptive features evolution and the ecological processes in which this species engages should provide a helpful insight into this species over time. By going through the scientific research and practitioners’ opinions, the audience will learn extensively about the Bigeye Houndshark and, most importantly, the role of this Houndshark in marine life conservation and research.
What is the Bigeye Houndshark?
Bigeye Houndshark (Iago amanuensis) is a member of the Triakidae family and is a batoid fish. Characterized by enlarged, bulging eyes, this species prefers deep, warm waters throughout the Indian and western Pacific oceans. Ranging from 100-1000m, it is often found at insular and continental slopes. The Bigeye Houndshark has a slender build and preys mainly on juvenile fishes and small invertebrates, a population usually insignificant to the reproductive females. Female Bigeye houndsharks are ovoviviparous and give birth to live offspring. Although not much has been studied, this species is interesting to the scientific community, and research is being conducted on its population and ecological role.
Understanding the Iago Omanensis Species
The Iago omanensis, also called the Bigeye Houndshark, possesses several anatomical and ecological peculiarities. Its large eyes are ideally suited for the low-light levels that dominate the depth zones where it lives, enhancing its predator effectiveness. This species is mostly confined to the shelf and slope of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans; its range is from Oman and eastwards to Indonesia. They primarily feed on teleost fish and cephalopods, thus occupying higher tropic levels and being mid-level predatory. Based on the available reproductive data, it is inferred that the Bigeye Houndshark is ovoviviparous; pregnant females give birth to pups that have been nourished in their bodies. Particular attention is paid to population size and density on an ongoing basis, which still remains sketchy and poorly researched; however, it has gained more attention due to its known ecological role.
Key Characteristics and Description of the Bigeye Houndshark
The body of Bigeye Houndshark is thin, with a fawn brown stripe and a large cylinder body. A substantial number of adult individuals grow up to be 1.1 meters long. Varying light conditions and the deep-water ecology have resulted in sharks developing big eyes suited for such situations. The specific range of reproduction for females of the species starts from one to two. Still, the species of the embryos remains intact for a long period as it is ovoviviparous. Current research aims to address unknown factors related to the species’ geographic distribution and population structure. Work is being done to determine its preservation status, and in this matter, its isolation makes a detailed and comprehensive population analysis impossible.
Historical Context: Norman 1939 and the Discovery
The Bigeye Houndshark (Iago amanuensis), described by J.R. Norman in 1939, was one of the most significant advances in the understanding of this species, which is found most often in the continental shelf and slope areas of the Indian Ocean and western Pacific areas. Their range and stock level estimation utilized historical information, satellite tracking, and genetic markers analysis. Contemporary research highlights gaps in knowledge around their breeding behavior and population pre- and post-reproductive metrics, which are critical for developing conservation priorities. Despite this improving focus on developing better ecological research techniques, there is still a poor understanding of many aspects of the life history and environmental role of the Bigeye Houndshark. The appropriation of information has made conservation action difficult, and sustaining action and research work were required in these areas.
How is the Bigeye Houndshark Classified?
Taxonomic Classification and Synonyms
The Bigeye Houndshark is a species found in the family Triakidae, classed in the Carcharhiniformes. This species is occasionally referred to by synonyms such as Iago gareensis or Triakis omanensis. Precise taxonomy could be complex because of the changes over time in the vocabulary and the cognate species of the taxon. However, recent studies have pointed to a better understanding of the phylogenetic relationships and the species’ placement, confirming its uniqueness in the genus Iago. Even so, it is noted that confusion prevails in some of the past literature that dialects about the problem, which indicates the necessity of adhering to current taxonomic literature while considering studies concerning the species. On top of that, the Bigeye Houndshark’s genetic and morphological features are still being investigated, which also aids in further classifying this obscure species.
Analyzing the IUCN Red List Status
The Bigeye Houndshark (Iago amanuensis) is considered ‘Least Concern’ by the IUCN Red List. Such assessments are made as the species appears to be more or less everywhere, and there are no indications that the populations of the species have significantly dropped. This is because information on specific population dynamics, like trends and threats, is remarkably deficient due to poor monitoring of some areas of its occurrence. The species dwells in the deep sea and is sometimes insulated from adverse human impacts, particularly in regions with stable water temperatures. However, deep-sea fisheries include bycatch, which still poses a threat. The IUCN points out that some more needs to be done for practical conservation aims, considering what will be sufficient populations.
Where Can You Find the Bigeye Houndshark?
Distribution Across the Western Indian Ocean and Beyond
The Bigeye Houndshark (Iago amanuensis) is mainly confined to the deep parts of the Western Indian Ocean, mostly southwest of India. It is distributed in such countries as the Gulf of Oman, around the Arabian Peninsula, and even to the southern coastline of Somalia. This species is more common between 110 and 1000 meters below the ocean surface, permitting habitation in places more remote to civilization. Besides, its abnormal report in many deep-sea places means it could extend its habitat beyond the areas reported, perhaps including ocean beds west south of India. Further research and detailed investigation into its distribution patterns are required to understand the geographical boundaries of the species better.
Regions: Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Bay of Bengal
The Bigeye Houndshark (Iago amanuensis) is distributed in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Oman, and the Bay of Bengal, which are the places where water temperature does not deter the species. It breaks in the Bahaman Islands and ranges eastward through the Caribbean Sea. Sometimes, it is spotted in the Aonam Gulf OIvn just to stare at the open waters. But it is currently more abundant in zoarsabasinsea. The species of Bigeye hound shark lives in the region with relatively low temperatures and extends deep into the waters. Not most of the population, but some are indeed bred in the gulf. The patches of the species are known to hail from the coastline of the Gulf of Mackean Sea and disperse to the Indian plate. Features indicate that the sections breached these waters and eventually came into contact with deepwater places due to breeding seasons and increasing pressure.
Preferred Depth Range and Habitats
The Bigeye Houndshark (Iago amanuensis) is most commonly located within a depth of 110 to 1,000 meters, displaying its ability to live in regions with less variation and less exposure from humans and the surface. This depth range is also associated with low temperatures and limited sunlight, which suit their ecology. Such deeper sea levels also protect the Bigeye Houndshark, an area where it can hunt without the risk of the stalkers common in shallow, densely populated coastal regions. The fact that the species is found in a secluded location also indicates its peculiarness to the specific ecological functions in the oceanic water.
What is the Bigeye Houndshark’s Behavior?
Feeding Habits and Diet of the Bigeye Houndshark
The Bigeye Houndshark (Iago amanuensis) inhabits the deep oceans, where it finds and hunts many small fishes and cephalopods. Small demersal fishes and benthic invertebrates make up most of its diet, and given the low light levels in which it usually resides, the shark has high skill in finding its and its prey’s locations. Its large eyes help it detect movement and light changes, aiding it in this predation. Recent studies and sightings suggest that the shark targets its prey by sneaking up on it and then dashing to capture it, which helps it save energy in a place where supply is scarce; this indicates the confirmation of the shark’s upper bound as a deep sea predator. These feeding habits indicate the shark’s ecological role as a mid-level predator controlling the equilibrium of its ecosystems.
Reproduction: Viviparous Nature and Mating
Bigeye Houndshark reproduces through live birth and maintains this nurturing mode in its deep-sea environment. As most do, these sharks go through a mating process dependent on the spatial positioning of the two fins during space control. During the mating stage, mostly in deeper waters, the male and female sharks meet and stay in close purpura until fertilization occurs. After this process, the newborn babies start developing in the mother’s womb, drawing nourishment very similar to how a child draws from the mother after birth, which has been shown as a factor promoting evolution. In regards to mating and gestation, extensive research is still being done. The current evidence suggests that these organisms have evolved a complex system of reproduction that has not only proven effective and reliable but has ensured the evolution of the species within the ecosystem.
Interactions with Humans and Environmental Impact
There are few anthropogenic influences on the Bigeye Houndshark, given its deep-sea habitat, which the commercial fishing industry has not regularly targeted throughout history. Nevertheless, like other oceanic species, it bears the repercussions of contamination and global warming, which changes the natural habitat on which it depends for survival. Conservation strategies would be essential for the environmental sustainability of its ecological niche and the threats of global warming. At the moment, the shark is not seen as an impetus for dangerous activities on the earth’s surface; instead, their position in the food chain emphasizes the need to protect ecosystems and biodiversity along the contours of oceans. Maintaining this equilibrium is crucial not only for the bigeye hound shark but also for securing the functionalism of global marine ecosystems.
How Does the Bigeye Houndshark Compare to Other Species?
Size and Length Comparisons: 37 cm and Beyond
The classification of the Bigeye Houndshark positions it as a small shark species that did not develop tremendous or exceptional features for deep-sea inhabitation. This performance puts it at around 37 centimeters, which is relatively normal amongst other deep-sea hound sharks, and it uses areas where food abundance is not assured and competition is limited. Top-level predator hound sharks have evolved to have this emergence due to the evolutionary adaptation of specific hound sharks and ecomorphological natural selection on working cadaverous bodies. The targeted ecosystems limited the structure’s developmental stresses on the houndshark’s surrounding area and aided in stabilizing its body for hunting structures ranging from long to short but insignificant. This summary of the Bigeye hound shark also greatly depicts how other predatory species have evolved to occupy an altered structure-based role around other marine life.
Unique Traits Among Other Species of Houndshark
Recent web searches show the Bigeye Houndshark has a few features that differentiate it from other houndsharks. One is its large, sensitive eyes, developed to function in deep-sea conditions, enabling it to spot prey easily. The Bigeye Houndshark also has a fusiform body, which increases its ability to swim within the highly complex structures of the ocean. Another noticeable point is the lateral line system, which was developed to detect vibrations and movement in water selectively, which is helpful for predation or when attacked. These precisely engineered features demonstrate Bigeye Houndshark’s evolutionary status in his ecosystem and contrast from his counterparts in terms of features and way of life.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Where can the Bigeye Houndshark be found?
A: Most Bigeye Houndsharks live on the continental shelf and the slope off India and Pakistan’s southwestern coastal region. They are also found in specific temperature ranges but are commonly applied to the deeper parts of the continental shelf.
Q: To what length can Bigeye Houndsharks measure to?
A: Bigeye Houndsharks are small. Males are about 15 cm in total length, whereas the rest of the males seem to be a bit larger. This species presumably merited the name among the sharks, as adults hardly surpass 60 cm in length, while 74 cm appears to be the record size of this species.
Q: How do they appear in shape or features? Tell us more about the Bigeye Houndshark.
A: The appearance of the Bigeye Houndshark is somewhat unique. Most have a brown color with a white or pale color on the belly. The shark has bulged eyes, a considerable body width and a trunk inclined downwards, and it is open thoroughly, especially during prime feeding time. The dorsal fin is broader than other fins in most cases, adding to its impressive appearance.
Q: What is the reproduction process of Bigeye Houndsharks?
A: Bigeye Houndsharks are placental, giving birth to live young, where the offspring are usually smaller than the female parents. Female Bigeye Houndsharks range from 2 to 10 pups in a single litter. The exact length of the gestational period is not precisely known but is assumed to last for several months. The male houndshark reaches reproductive age at a smaller growth size than the female one.
Q: What do Bigeye Houndsharks eat?
A: Bony fish are the primary dietary source for bigeye hound sharks, as they make up most of their meals. They seem most common on the continental shelf and slope, where other larger animals, such as small crustaceans and cephalopods, are also present.
Q: Where can one find more information regarding Bigeye Houndsharks?
A: To get details on specific species like the Bigeye Houndshark, refer to marine biology pages, databases, and academic research papers. Wikipedia has a short description of these, but there are exclusive shark reclamation websites that have very complex material. A valuable visual aid includes pictures or maps of their distribution range in an ocean environment on various sites.
Q: Is there any threat to the Bigeye Houndshark in terms of its conservation status?
A: To our knowledge, the Bigeye Houndshark has not been officially assessed. The lack of research and data on Bigeye Houndshark makes its conservation status unknown, but it can be assumed to be similar to other hound sharks and classified as Least Concern. We highlight the importance of assessing their population structure so that, if needed, the appropriate measures could be taken.
Q: Are there any interesting facts about the Bigeye Houndshark?
A: The most exciting and unique fact about the Bigeye Houndshark is that it is a deep-water species between 50-300 meters deep. This is, perhaps, due to genetics, which, in turn, leads to them being classed by some authors as dwarf sharks. Notably, the Bigeye is not a very large member of the hammerhead family.
Reference Sources
1. Title: “A Depth-Distribution of the Bigeye Hound Shark Iago Omanensis Along With Other Deep Sea Specimens Observed Using Baited-Camera In The Red Sea.”
Authors: Jessica R. Pearce et al.
Journal: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom Publication Date: 24 January 2023
Key Findings:
- This paper describes a video recording of the bigeye hound shark Iago amanuensis, which was discovered inhabiting the waters of the Red Sea at a depth of up to 2522 meters.
- The research noted the existence of other deep-sea species. On Iago Omanensis, the authors remarked that it was the only scavenger fish accompanied by other such fishes found in moderation.
- This paper describes the peculiar features of the Red Sea: first, a water column above about 300 meters is almost uniform; second, the temperature of nearly all waters below 2900 meters is consistently warm (about 21.5 ° C). Third, in conjunction with barriers to the settlement by the primary bathyal organisms, these features give rise to a depleted but numb bathy fauna.
Methodology:
- Using baited camera systems, the researchers obtained video footage that displayed the geographic location of the bigeye hound shark, among other deep-sea organisms in the Red Sea, providing a clearer picture of their habitat.
- The authors lend observational discourses based on different depths and document species and species behavior within their natural settings (Pearce et al., 2023).
3. Bigeye tuna
4. Shark
