Lemon Shark in black and white

Sharks

Octopus Is Spotted Riding a Shark

The moment, captured on video by researchers from the Auckland University of Technology, has quickly attracted international attention.

While octopuses are known for their intelligence and problem-solving abilities, such behaviour is highly unusual. Researchers suggest the octopus may have been using the shark as cover, attempting to avoid predators or navigate more efficiently through the water. It is also possible the octopus was defending itself after an attempted predation by the shark.

Diagram showing Megalodon compared with other sharks
Diagram showing Megalodon compared with other sharks (Kenshu Shimada et al./ CC BY 4.0)

New Study: Megalodon Looked Like a Lemon

Megalodon, the largest great predatory shark to have ever lived, dominated the oceans millions of years ago during the Neogene period. Despite its fame, much about its appearance and biology remains a mystery since its skeletons, made mostly of cartilage, are rarely fossilised. However, this new research offers valuable clues.

Megalodon showing scale
Megalodon's size (EvolutionIncarnate / CC0)

Insights Into Megalodon Sharks' Behaviour

Sharks have long been the subject of fascination for scientists and enthusiasts alike and observations in the wild have revealed that their behaviour is far more complex than was previously assumed. But though the fossil record has provided a wealth of information about their prehistoric existence, it has rarely shown anything about their behaviour. 

Brain tissue from a stranded shark has been sent to the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory for genetic sequencing, which may reveal the virus or bacteria behind the meningoencephalitis. (Illustration: Peter Symes / AI)

Great White Sharks Dying From Brain Disease

Marine biologists are investigating unexplained deaths among great white sharks along the Atlantic coastline of the United States and Canada. Since 2022, at least nine carcasses have washed ashore, with necropsies revealing a common factor: meningoencephalitis, an inflammation of the brain and its surrounding tissues.

The great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran) is listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature

NSW protects threatened hammerheads

In response to scientific and community concerns, the NSW Government has listed the great hammerhead as vulnerable and the scalloped hammerhead as endangered under the Fisheries Management Act 1994.

"Formally recognizing that these two shark species are threatened is a significant step forward to protect some of our most vulnerable marine wildlife. We congratulate the NSW Government for taking a proactive approach to conserving these magnificent sharks, which are swimming against the tide of extinction," said Tooni Mahto, AMCS Marine Campaigns Officer.

A shortfin mako shark
The shortfin mako shark. (Photo: 出羽雀台 / CC BY-SA 4.0)

Mako Sharks in the Mediterranean: Urgent Need for Action

First-ever tracking study in the Mediterranean

The new study reports that the mako shark travelled an estimated 408km over a period of 54 days, showcasing the vast distances these creatures can cover even at a young age. This discovery underscores the need to rethink traditional ideas about mako nurseries, areas where young sharks are born and grow up, as the tracked shark moved far from its presumed nursery near Tunisia.

Greenland shark
Greenland shark (Photo: Hemming1952, CC BY-SA 4.0)

The Secret of the Greenland Shark’s Remarkable Longevity

The Greenland shark, a giant species that can grow to more than five metres in length, has stunned scientists with its exceptional lifespan—estimated to last over 390 years, making it one of the longest-living vertebrates on Earth. Now, researchers are beginning to uncover the genetic secrets behind the Greenland shark's remarkable longevity.

Sphyrna alleni
The new hammerhead species, Sphyrna alleni. Photo by Cindy Gonzalez ©Magnolia Press. Reproduced with permission from the copyright holder.

New Species of Hammerhead Shark Discovered

Bonnethead sharks, known for their uniquely shaped heads, are part of the hammerhead shark family. For years, there was thought to be only one species, Sphyrna tiburo, with two subspecies. One is found in the western Atlantic, including the waters off the US, Mexico, and the Bahamas, and the second is found in the eastern Pacific. However, new findings suggest a more complex picture.