First records of the Pacific sleeper shark Somniosus cf. pacificus in the western tropical Pacific

Technological advances have enabled the expansion of ocean exploration to include the deep ocean, providing new species observations. Here, the authors present two new observations, captured by deep-sea cameras, of the sleeper shark Somniosus cf. pacificus from the Solomon Islands and Palau. This presents the first observation of S. cf. pacificus in the western Pacific tropics and extends its range about 2000 nautical miles south. The observations presented here provide much-needed information on the range of this species which can help guide future management and conservation actions.

Automated summary

Technological advances have allowed for the exploration of the deep ocean, leading to the discovery of new species. This study presents two new observations of the sleeper shark Somniosus cf. pacificus captured by deep-sea cameras in the Solomon Islands and Palau. These observations mark the first sightings of S. cf. pacificus in the western Pacific tropics and expand its known range approximately 2000 nautical miles southward. The findings provide valuable information for the future management and conservation efforts of this species.