Thousands of sharks were observed gathering for an underwater slumber party off the coast of Australia.
The shiver comprised Port Jackson sharks, a species that inhabits Australia’s southern coastal waters. The distinctive appearance of sharks is marked by two prominent ridges extending from their blunt noses to the backs of their heads. Reaching lengths of up to 5.5 feet (1.6 meters), these nocturnal predators spend their nights actively searching for squid, octopuses, and crustaceans. Unlike numerous other shark species, Port Jackson sharks are not considered vulnerable or at risk of extinction.
The great white sharks had been lingering on the backside of Beagle Marine Park, a protected aquatic reserve situated in the Bass Strait – the significant body of water separating Australia from Tasmania to its south. During a recent expedition by an analysis crew from the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Research (IMAS), scientists noted the presence of sharks. According to Jacquomo Monk, senior analysis fellow at IMAS and expedition chief, scientists employed a remotely operated underwater robot to survey the ocean seabed, only to stumble upon a remarkable discovery – sharks densely packed like a carpet spread across the seafloor, situated approximately 213 feet (65 meters) beneath the surface.
Six years prior, the team had encountered this very same shark aggregation during an earlier expedition, rendering their current sighting little more than a pleasant yet unsurprising revelation. The researchers revisited the park to assess how conditions had evolved over time.
During our recent survey, we were eager to catch another glimpse of the sharks, as previously observed, noted Monk. The fact that we spotted them not once, but twice, within a 3,000 square-foot area was certainly a notable finding. Discovering a kilometer-squared park, equivalent to approximately 1,158 square miles, is akin to finding a needle in a haystack.
What previously went unnoted was the surprising discovery that every single shark was female – a finding that raises more queries than answers, although it’s well established that females and males of this species typically segregate except during mating, according to Dr. Monk. The exact motivations behind the female birds’ presence remain unclear. As they gorge on native doughboy scallops, a prelude to their arduous migration north to lay eggs. The mere sight of their habitat again underscores its profound importance to them.
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Netflix’s surprise summer sensation featured a swarm of harmless Port Jackson sharks, unlike the genetically modified man-eaters depicted in films – these gentle species pose no threat to human safety. Rarely do sharks engage in chewing behavior, but when they do, the outcome is often a bruised and torn wet suit.
