Heterodontus is a small genus of sharks within the family Heterodontidae of the order Heterodontiformes. First discovered in Australia in the 18th century in the form of the Port Jackson shark, it now includes 10 scientifically recognized species. All Heterodontus species are relatively small, with the largest species reaching 1.65 m (5.5 feet) in length. […]
Tag: shark
Why More Sharks are a Sign of Healthier Oceans
Every summer, America turns its attention towards the sea, and more specifically, the sharks that inhabit it. This year, there seems to be an increase in shark sightings, but contrary to popular fear, this might be a cause for celebration rather than alarm. Experts suggest that the rise in shark sightings indicates a revival of […]
Experts say ‘cocaine sharks’ may be feasting on drugs dumped off Florida
In what could be the plotline for the next cheesy marine-themed disaster movie, scientists think crazed and hungry sharks could be feasting on bales of hallucinatory drugs dumped off the Florida coast. Yet while Cocaine Sharks – a highlight of Discovery’s upcoming Shark Week – does indeed examine if the ocean predators are chomping on […]
Another report of a shark in Cape Cod Bay leaping out of the water to grab striper on fishing line
Trying to catch striped bass in Cape Cod Bay these days? You might be competing with an incredibly powerful apex predator. For the second time this week, a great white shark in Cape Cod Bay was spotted jumping out of the water to chomp on a striper that had been hooked on a fishing line. […]
Basking Sharks are Partially Warm-Blooded, New Research Suggests
Few fast-swimming apex fishes are classified as regional endotherms, or partially warm-blooded, having evolved a relatively uncommon suite of traits (e.g. elevated body temperatures, centralized red muscle, and thick-walled hearts) thought to facilitate a fast, predatory lifestyle. Unlike those apex predators, basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus) are massive filter-feeding planktivores assumed to have the anatomy and […]
GENTLE GIANT Watch the incredible moment a whale scoops woman up with its fin to save her from lurking shark
This is the incredible moment a woman was saved by an unlikely underwater saviour as a shark menacingly swam towards her. Marine biologist Nan Hauser, 69, says she was left in tears after a heroic 50,000-pound humpback whale came to her rescue. Her extraordinary encounter was caught on camera and has now been broadcast as […]
Experts reveal the real reason great white sharks aren’t kept in aquariums
If you’ve ever visited an aquarium hoping to catch a glimpse of a great white shark, you’ll have gone home disappointed. The enormous marine animals are practically impossible to keep in captivity, and no one has managed the feat for long. That’s not to say nobody has tried – displaying great whites was a trend […]
Horde of 50 sharks filmed tearing humpback whale to shreds in feeding frenzy
They circle beneath the dead humpback and sink teeth into it for a quick bite. Meanwhile, trained marine rangers can be seen approaching the carcass on an inflatable boat. They towed the carcass away before anchoring it so sharks and other marine animals could feast. Senior ranger Daniel Clifton said in a statement: “Where there […]