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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Specialized scales propel mako sharks to top speeds

A new study from the University of Alabama, which will be presented at the 2019 American Physical Society Meeting in Boston later this month, found that specialized scales on the mako shark’s fins and along its flank help the predator reach speeds of nearly 80 miles per hour. They found tiny — approximately 0.2-millimeter in […]

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The evolution of megalodon’s perfectly adapted teeth

 The perfectly shaped cutting tools that were the teeth of the mighty megalodon were the result of millions of years of evolution, according to a new study published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Victor Perez, a doctoral student in geology at the Florida Museum of Natural History, analyzed 359 fossilized teeth found in […]

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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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SharkoFiles: Tiger Shark

Based on size, the tiger shark is the fourth largest shark in the world. The tiger sharks have broad diets which earn them the nickname of swimming garbage disposal. In addition to being aggressive predators and voracious hunters, they are called tiger sharks because of the stripes found on their bodies that eventually fades with […]

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Florida man involved in shark dragging incident gets reduced sentence

TAMPA — Michael Wenzel, the boat captain involved in the highly publicized incident that involved dragging a shark behind a speeding boat in Florida, has plead guilty to animal cruelty charges in exchange for a reduced sentence. Under the plea agreement Wenzel will serve 10 days in a Hillsborough County  jail – during weekends beginning on […]

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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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Column: Florida’s land-based shark fishing regulations needed, welcomed

I consider myself an avid shark fisherman. I also consider myself a conservationist. These things are not mutually exclusive. I practice catch-and-release with most of the sharks I catch being released with tags. Being a citizen scientist is part of the appeal –along with the adrenaline of course — for catching really big sharks. Unfortunately, […]

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FWC approves new land-based shark fishing regulations

New regulations regarding land-based shark fishing put forth by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee were approved during the February meeting in Gainesville. The new rules are intended to increase survival of released sharks, improve information gathering for the fishery and address some of the public safety concerns related to the fishery. The new […]