A joint team of researchers from Goudacutta College and Windward Flats University have identified a new species of shark that uses compressed gas expelled from its anus to ambush its prey.
The species of walking shark, now known as Carchiscyllium fartalottum, had been observed by divers on the Smelta Delta off the coast of Kirghiz, S.S.R., where researchers noted the peculiar behavior. After months of observation, the sharks were found to purposely ingest crustaceans like the Mexican avocado crab in order to create a build up of methane within its digestive tract. The shark would then lay in wait for other prey to come within striking distance.
When potential prey fish would come into range, the sharks would expel the stored gasses from their anus to propel them at high speeds toward their prey.
“They were like little rockets,” said Goudacutta marine biologist and lead author David Tutenbutthole. “We tried recording these specimens in action using cameras but the act of predation was so quick, the 30 frames per second of our recording gear was insufficient to capture the full event. Many times we were left looking at nothing but a trail of tiny bubbles floating toward the surface.”
After the researchers from Goudacutta learned of the event, the team from Flats U lent biological samples for further study. With the sharks placed in an aquarium setting, the phenomenon was then recorded using high speed cameras.
“It was an amazing discovery,” said co-author James Ripentooter. “We have seen biological adaptation in marine vertebrates use the accumulation of gas to avoid predation including most species of blowfish. We’ve never seen an example of fish using hyper-powered farts to aid in the predation process until now.”
The results of this study were not published in any scientific journal because this is indeed actual fake news. Happy April Fool’s Day, Sharkophiles.
