{"id":19239,"title":"The Sharks of the Galapagos Islands","description":"The most common of all the species found in the waters surrounding the islands are the Scalloped Hammerhead, Bullhead and Whale sharks.","content":"

The most common of all the species found in the waters surrounding the islands are the Scalloped Hammerhead, Bullhead and Whale sharks.<\/p>

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The Whale Shark is so named for its imposing size and is known to grow up to an astounding 18 metres in length, although the average size is more like 12 metres. Weighing up to 15-20 tonnes, these ocean giants feed on plankton, vacuuming up vast amounts of water through their mouths and filtering it through their gills, in an ingenious and surprisingly delicate method called filter feeding.<\/p>

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At the other end of the size range, the Bullhead Shark is the smallest species of the region, only growing to about a metre in length. It can be identified by its small stature and unusual spotted markings on its back. This species is the one that scientists know least about, due to its small range that only extends throughout the archipelago and parts of the west coast of Peru. In fact, although a research project is currently underway, it's yet to be determined if the Galapagos species is separate to the Peruvian one.<\/p>

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Named for its highly distinctive hammer-shaped appearance, the Scalloped Hammerhead Shark can grow to around four metres and travels the waters around Wolf and Darwin Islands in large schools (up to 100 individuals) \u2013 one of the few species to display this social behaviour. The unusual side placement of its eyes affords it a very wide angle of view and excellent opportunities for spotting prey in the surrounding waters, although the downside is a blind spot directly in front of the head. The species feeds on small fish and invertebrates, but will also occasionally dine on smaller sharks.<\/p>

Threats and Conservation<\/strong><\/p>

Along with the perils that come with human intervention, including illegal fishing of the archipelago's waters, the population is under threat from global climatic influences, decline of food sources and their own shortcomings in terms of slow maturation and breeding.<\/p>

Thankfully, there are numerous conservation efforts in place to help protect the continued survival of the shark population of the Galapagos Islands and, indeed, throughout the world. In addition to education, memberships and fund raising initiatives (including hammerhead adoption programmes), ecotourism (bringing visitors through on Galapagos cruise itineraries) is helping to raise awareness of the threats that the species are facing.<\/p>","urlTitle":"the-sharks-of-the-galapagos-islands","url":"\/blog\/the-sharks-of-the-galapagos-islands\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/the-sharks-of-the-galapagos-islands\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/wonplanet.co.uk\/blog\/the-sharks-of-the-galapagos-islands\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1657188031,"updatedAt":1657189965,"publishedAt":1657189965,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":103581,"name":"won-planet"},"tags":[],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/krzmqzwryimo6xd4ybobm44stx1ykeaiyvvvduoffephxa9a.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/krzmqzwryimo6xd4ybobm44stx1ykeaiyvvvduoffephxa9a.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/krzmqzwryimo6xd4ybobm44stx1ykeaiyvvvduoffephxa9a.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"Sharks Of The Galapogos","metaDescription":"Sharks, save sharks, shark lives matter, galapogos, hammerhead shark, whale shark.","keyPhraseCampaignId":2810,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":9363,"title":"Planting Trees to help Fight Climate Change.","url":"\/blog\/planting-trees-to-help-fight-climate-change\/","urlTitle":"planting-trees-to-help-fight-climate-change","division":103581,"description":"Global warming is happening at a faster rate than ever. Our polar ice caps are melting and our forests are burning. We\u2019re in a climate emergency and it\u2019s threatening our planet","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/dkynbs9xg4e8opolxjcgpc9jq7eybza9chfh4tgnrnwchuzd.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/dkynbs9xg4e8opolxjcgpc9jq7eybza9chfh4tgnrnwchuzd.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":9926,"title":"Meet Little Miss Bendy.","url":"\/blog\/meet-little-miss-bendy\/","urlTitle":"meet-little-miss-bendy","division":103581,"description":"Hi I am a white tipped reef shark who has spinal scoliosis. I am female and live a very interesting life.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/wl7xrcitjf0utikpsrvsc4bosd8uonawh3iiowkatuasn16v.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/wl7xrcitjf0utikpsrvsc4bosd8uonawh3iiowkatuasn16v.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":9327,"title":"Ocean Acidification","url":"\/blog\/ocean-acification\/","urlTitle":"ocean-acification","division":103581,"description":"Ocean acidification occurs when the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/vrgroeny6ilb4x8d9sdgra3c40ryqqqxpkyxl6iiukpbb1mm.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/vrgroeny6ilb4x8d9sdgra3c40ryqqqxpkyxl6iiukpbb1mm.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}