Sharkophile

The latest shark news, photos and videos

by

Shark Talks: MarAlliances’ Gabriela Ochoa

In 2011, the government of Honduras declared the country’s waters a shark sanctuary. The move obliged indigenous peoples who have been catching sharks for generations and for whom the fish represent an important source of income to stop their shark fishing. Five years later, in 2016, a decree allowed for a modification to the law stipulating that sharks caught […]

by

IUCN lists 17 shark species as threatened with extinction

The shortfin mako, the world’s fastest known shark, which can reach speeds of up to 43 miles an hour, is one step closer to extinction. According to the Shark Specialist Group (SSG) of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), which assessed the population trends of 58 species of sharks and rays and updated their […]

by

SharkoFiles: Largetooth Sawfish

Sharks and rays are some of the world’s most threatened animals, with a quarter of all species at risk of extinction. Among the sharks and rays, sawfish are some of the most threatened, with all five species listed as Critically Endangered or Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The Largetooth Sawfish […]

by

More shark bites globally doesn’t mean greater risk of attack

A statistical analysis of shark attacks worldwide using data collected over a 55-year period found that although the number of shark attacks has increased over time, the rate of attack is low. Using data from the International Shark Attack File housed in the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida, LSU Department […]

by

Humans may soon regrow teeth just like a shark

Sharks are the ultimate predators of the aquatic realm thanks to one character in particular – teeth. Not only are shark’s teeth razor sharp but they are also constantly regrown throughout life, gradually replaced like a conveyor belt of rows of teeth, and not just when they are worn down or fall out. This is […]

by

SharkoFiles: Wobbegong Shark

The Wobbegong shark’s unusual name is derived from an Australian Aboriginal word that means “shaggy beard.” Wobbegongs are also known as carpet sharks because of their propensity for lying motionless on the ocean floor. The shark’s body is often covered with an ornate pattern. Generally, this species of shark are harmless and not as fearsome […]

by

Cartilage skeletons an evolutionary adaptation for sharks

Sharks are one of the oldest and least changed of all the living back-boned jawed creatures. But because their skeletons are made of cartilage much of their early fossil record is poor. Cartilage is a rubbery tissue that forms the framework for bones to ossify (harden) upon. It’s why babies have rubbery legs when they […]