Page 24 - AM211111
P. 24

Diahuebs, 11 November 2021                                           AWEMainta.com                                                       24
                                                                            INTERNATIONAL



          Venomous sharks found in London's Thames river






                   In 1957, the Thames was declared "biologically dead." But now,


                surprising creatures have been discovered in London's famous river.




       Back  in  1957,  the  capital  city's  river  was                          Spurdogs, have venom-secreting spines on their dorsal fins.
       declared "biologically dead."

       But  now,  surprising  creatures,  like  sharks
       including tope, starry smooth-hound and

       spurdog -- a slender fish measuring some 23
       inches and covered in venomous spines -- have

       been found.
       Spurdogs can be found in deep water, and

       the spines in front of the shark's two dorsal
       fins secrete a venom that can cause pain and

       swelling in humans
                                                                                                             Pally/Alamy Stock Photo

       Tope shark, which feed on fish and crustaceans                           The river also provides drinking water, food,
       and can reach 6 feet and up to 106 pounds,                               livelihoods and protection from coastal

       have never launched an unprovoked attack on                              flooding to surrounding communities
       humans, according to the UK’s Wildlife Trusts.

       Meanwhile, the starry smooth-hound, which                                Climate change has increased the Thames’
       can reach up to 4 feet and 25 pounds, mostly                             temperature by 0.2C a year on average, ZSL

       eats crustaceans, shellfish and molluscs.                                said,  warning  that  this  “paints  a  worrying

                                                                                picture” when combined with sea level rises.
       However, the number of fish species found in                             Water levels have been increasing since
       the tidal areas of the river has shown a slight                          monitoring began in 1911 in the tidal section

       decline, and conservation scientists have                                of the Thames, rising at some points by 0.17
       warned that further research is needed to                                inch a year on average since 1990.

       understand why.

                                                                                “As water temperature and sea levels continue
       The 215-mile river, home to more than 115                                to rise above historic baselines, the estuary’s
       species of fish and 92 species of bird, faces                            wildlife will be particularly impacted, through

       pollution and climate change threats, ZSL                                changes to species’ lifecycles and ranges,” ZSL
       warned.                                                                  warned in a statement.






                  @BBC                                                      @CNN                                 @euronews


       Paraguay police probe Stradivarius violin           Ethiopia’s leader said he would                  “We know what needs to be
       theft motive in double murder                       bury his enemy. His spokeswoman                  done...but we just need the
                                                           doesn’t think it was incitement to violence      courage to get on and do it.” UK Prime
                                                           https://cnn.it/3ksa7hf                           Minister Boris Johnson
   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29