Newly discovered shark species named for Mote Marine founder Eugenie Clark

Dr. Eugenie Clark was a pioneer in shark biology, known around the world for her illuminating research on shark behavior. She was also a pioneer in another critical way, as one of the first women of prominence in the male-dominated field of marine biology.

Fondly labeled the “Shark Lady,” Clark founded Mote Marine Laboratory and continued studying fishes until she passed away in 2015 at age 92. She will now be recognized with another distinction: namesake of a newly discovered species of dogfish shark.

The species, named Squalus clarkae, also known as Genie’s Dogfish, was identified from the Gulf of Mexico and western Atlantic Ocean. The confirmation of this new species was reported this month in the journal Zootaxa (link to full article").