Sharkophile

The latest shark news, photos and videos

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Sharks prefer to sneak attack

Sharks can comprehend body orientation and therefore know whether humans are facing them or not. This ability helps sharks to approach and possibly attack their prey from the blind side – a technique they prefer — according to a study published in the journal, Animal Cognition, by Erich Ritter of the Shark Research Institute and Raid Amin of […]

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Lessons learned from a shark bite survivor

It is received wisdom that many shark attacks take place because the ocean predators “mistake” surfers for seals. But this assumption does not recognise what quick and efficient predators they are. The fossil record tells us sharks have been evolving for at least 20 million years, and as a result are perfectly adapted for what […]

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New study shows more genetic data on sharks needed

The headlines are eye-catching: Scientists have sequenced the genome of white sharks. Or the bamboo lemur, or the golden eagle. But why spend so much time and money figuring out the DNA makeup of different species? I am an evolutionary biologist at the Florida Program for Shark Research. Our research focuses on understanding how modern […]

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SharkoFiles: Northern River Shark

The Northern River Shark (Glyphis garricki) is one of the rarest species of shark in the world. It is known only from a small number of locations in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Papua New Guinea. Discovered in Australia in 1986, only 36 specimens have been recorded here since. The Northern River Shark is […]

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Are sharks color blind?

We’ve known since early last year that sharks are most likely colour-blind. But today, in a paper published in Biology Letters by our team at UWA, we explain why this is the case. It’s a finding we believe could help prevent shark attacks and other negative encounters between these marine predators and humans in the […]

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Chemical fingerprints of plankton unlock shark feeding habits

Across the globe, sharks have been hit hard by fishing and habitat destruction, which has led to declines in many populations. Marine conservation efforts are increasingly focused on managing particular regions to prevent certain kinds of fishing, or to restore a certain habitat, within their boundaries – things like marine protected areas. So knowing how […]

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New Jaws-themed board game coming soon

Ravensburger, known for its intricate 3D puzzles and other children’s games, unveiled plans during this year’s Toy Fair convention to release a new board game based on the Steven Spielberg classic shark-thriller, Jaws. The four-player strategy game pits three players who take on the roles of Quint, Brody, and Hooper, against the killer shark in two […]

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Despite endothermic biology, white sharks prefer to take it slow

A new study by the National Institute of Polar Research in Japan found that great white sharks, despite  body temperatures that are often warmer than their surroundings, prefer to hunt seals and other prey at slower speeds. These findings, published in this month’s Journal of Experimental Biology, are in contrast to how most endothermic predators hunt. The […]

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Experience sharks at St. Thomas’ Coral World Ocean Park

Few nature parks or aquariums can offer the beauty and diversity of St. Thomas Coral World Ocean Park. As one of the highest rated attractions on the island, Coral World delights scores of visitors every year. Unlike many other aquariums, Coral World also features several distinct activities each highlighting a different aspect of the Caribbean’s […]