Articles for tag: Australia, Sharks

Basking shark spotted in B.C

Rare Basking Shark Sighting off B.C Coast Sparks Hope for Species Recovery

Andrew Alpin

An English paddle boarding couple have reported seeing a rare basking shark off Wallace Island in the Gulf Islands, British Columbia. The fascinating creature which looks like a prehistoric monster was spotted in June 2024 by Nick Gallant and his wife, owners of Island Magic Experiences while on a paddleboard excursion. Witnesses to a Rare ...

Sharks and Rays? Closer Than They Look—but Not to Bony Fish

Sharks and Rays? Closer Than They Look—but Not to Bony Fish

Annette Uy

Imagine swimming in the deep blue, shadows gliding effortlessly beneath you—sleek, powerful, and mysterious. The ocean’s most iconic predators, sharks and rays, captivate our imagination with their otherworldly shapes and silent grace. But what if the real surprise lies not in their ferocity, but in their secret family ties? While many might lump all fish ...

Sharks Are Adapting to Survival by having Virgin Births in Italian Aquariums

Sharks Are Adapting to Survival by having Virgin Births in Italian Aquariums

In recent years, researchers have observed an extraordinary phenomenon in two female smooth-hound sharks at Cala Gonone Aquarium in Italy: these sharks are reproducing asexually through a process called parthenogenesis. This rare reproductive strategy, often referred to as “virgin birth,” allows these sharks to produce offspring without the presence of a male, which has significant ...

Why Sharks Are More Than Just Predators – Their Role in Ocean Health

Why Sharks Are More Than Just Predators – Their Role in Ocean Health

Annette Uy

The ocean’s apex predators have been swimming through our nightmares for decades, thanks to Hollywood’s dramatic portrayals and sensationalized media coverage. But what if I told you that these magnificent creatures are actually the ocean’s most essential guardians? While most people see sharks as ruthless killers lurking in the depths, the reality is far more ...

How Social Are Sharks? What We’re Learning About Predator Behavior

Annette Uy

Picture this: you’re diving in crystal-clear waters when suddenly, a group of sharks glides past you in perfect formation. Your heart pounds, but not just from fear—from awe. For decades, we’ve painted sharks as solitary killing machines, but groundbreaking research is completely rewriting this narrative. Scientists are discovering that these apex predators have complex social ...

great white shark

The Silent Hunters No More: Scientists Discover That Sharks Can Produce Sounds

April Joy Jovita

For years, scientists believed that sharks were among the few silent hunters of the ocean. Unlike whales and dolphins, sharks lacked vocal structures, leading researchers to conclude that they were incapable of sound production. However, a groundbreaking accidental discovery challenged this long-standing assumption, revealing that some shark species can, in fact, produce noises. A Surprising ...

New Species of Deep Sea Shark Discovered off Western Australia

Andrew Alpin

The deep sea continues to surprise us. In a striking reminder that the ocean still holds many secrets, researchers off Western Australia have formally described two entirely new species: a lanternshark and a porcelain crab. These discoveries stem from a 2022 CSIRO-led marine expedition aboard RV Investigator and represent yet another chapter in the ongoing ...