Sharkophile

The latest shark news, photos and videos

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Prehistoric sharks were suckers for crustaceans

A new study by the University of Chicago found that a prevalent species of 335-million-year-old shark had sophisticated jaws that functioned in much the same way as modern nurse sharks. Researchers used CT scans of fossils embedded deep in rock to create 3-D models of the movements and mechanics of the prehistoric sharks. The findings […]

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Florida shark cruelty case closes with disappointing results.

It apparently pays to be born into a wealthy and politically well-connected family. One of the most egregious cases of animal cruelty directed towards a shark and then broadcast via social media, ended with the final defendant in the case, Robert “Bo” Benac, receiving a fraction of the punishment he was potentially facing after taking a […]

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The plight of the North Atlantic Mako shark

With a reported top speed of 74 kilometers per hour (46 miles per hour), the shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) is one of the fastest creatures in the sea. It can jump up to 9 meters (30 feet) out of the water; its unique skin has inspired developments in the aeronautics industry; and with one of […]

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New species of prehistoric shark discovered in South Carolina

A new species of prehistoric daggernose shark was recently discovered among a trove of prehistoric fossils found in Aiken County, South Carolina. David Cicimurri, curator of the South Carolina State Museum’s natural history collection, and James Knight, of the University of South Carolina Aiken Department of Biology and Geology, found numerous fossils in the formerly […]

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Shining A Light on Lighthouse Point in the Bahamas

Disney Cruise Lines has received permission from the Government of the Bahamas to push ahead with plans for a massive cruise ship port at the heritage site in South Eleuthera called Lighthouse Point. Conservation groups are calling the plan disastrous, causing irreparable harm to the pristine environment. Last Chance for Lighthouse Point hopes to spare […]

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CITES Conference results in new protection for sharks

More than a dozen new species of sharks received additional protections after the 18th Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Conference of the Parties held this week in Geneva, Switzerland. “Previous successful listing of shark and ray species means there is building momentum for CITES to provide protections and inspire fisheries […]

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SharkoFiles: Ghost Shark

This species are formally known as chimeras and informally as the spookfish. They are a small group of cartilaginous fishes. This species of sharks have been around for over 400 million years. Although they are called ghost sharks, they are not true sharks. These species spent most their time below the sea at a depth […]

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Researchers uncover secret to glowing sharks

Researchers have identified a previously unknown family of small-molecule metabolite that is responsible for the bioflourescence of deepwater sharks that allows them to see each other in the darkest of depths. David Gruber, a professor at City University of New York, and Jason Crawford, a professor at Yale University, extracted chemicals from the skin samples of […]