In remote central Queensland, researchers have recently faced something completely new. The researchers described a new species of rare worm parasite, Loimos everinghami, found on the gills of a dead Australian sharpnose shark. This finding is important as it represents the first species of Loimos to be identified in over 50 years. The most recent discovery hadn’t occurred since then, the last known one in Brazil in 1972. In September 2024, scientists retrieved the sharpnose shark sample from a drumline off Lammemoor Beach in Yeppoon. This thrilling discovery took place in the depths of the southern Great Barrier Reef.
Dr. Vaughan, who heads the research team, said he was overwhelmed when he first looked at the parasite under a microscope. At first, he thought he had just discovered a new group of parasites altogether. “I actually first thought it was something else because I was expecting to find a different group of parasites,” he stated. The find was a culmination of nearly two decades searching for these charismatic worms. During some of those early days, Dr. Vaughan started to wonder if they were actually real.
Importance of the Discovery
The importance of Loimos everinghami goes beyond how rare it is. Dr. Vaughan went on to explain, because these specific parasites are extremely host-specific – that is, they only live in this type of shark. “These particular parasites, they are very host specific … You won’t find them on anything else,” he noted.
Parasites—or “ugly things,” as Evans likes to call them—only 2 millimeters long, are surprisingly important for cultivating the natural world around us. They prey on skin and mucous located in their host’s gills, functioning as a natural population health regulator for sharks. “They work like miniature predators in a way. They help to regulate a healthy population of their hosts,” Dr. Vaughan emphasized.
Future Research Directions
Looking forward, Dr. Vaughan and his collaborators have a number of ideas they still want to explore and test. He emphasized their plans to continue the hunt for additional species of Loimos parasites. That’s a testament to their years-long pursuit to study these creatures and gain a greater understanding of them. “It comes more than 50 years since the last Loimos species discovery in Brazil in 1972,” Dr. Vaughan remarked, highlighting the importance of their continued work in this field.
During the opening keynote, he aired some optimism for the future of this research. His passion came through as he described how knowledge of these parasites could tremendously improve conservation work. “It will help us conserve not only the shark species, but the things that are associated with them as well,” he stated.
