Sharks

The whale shark and the manta ray are perhaps two of the ocean's most fascinating large fishes. Well, scientists have now announced the discovery of a prehistoric ancestor of both, that looked like a cross between the two.

The great white shark may be one of the ocean's top predators, but it's still affected by climate change, just like any other animal. That's what's indicated by a new study, which shows that young great whites in California are moving to the north.

Scientists examining shark and ray populations across the globe have published an alarming study depicting a rapid decline of these species over the past half century, with the blame mostly resting at the feet of unsustainable fishing practices.

Sharks pre-date even the earliest dinosaurs, so it's not surprising to hear that they've changed over the years. It was recently discovered, for instance, that they were once able to rotate the two sides of their jaw outwards, helping them to feed.

Be thankful you didn’t live 20 million years ago, when the seas were patrolled by the Megalodon. This monstrous prehistoric shark was more than twice the size of a great white, and now a new detailed analysis has found just how big it really was.

Scientists in Australia have delved into the dining habits of juvenile great white sharks and discovered a humble diet that belies their image as a fearsome predator, with bottom-dwelling creatures making up a decent portion of their meals.

Although the great white shark is one of the ocean's top predators, it's still a vulnerable species. Now, scientists have discovered what they say is a prehistoric nursery site for the sharks, and it could have implications for protecting them today.

It turns out that there still are new things under the sun – or in this case, under the water. Scientists have recently discovered not one but two previously-unknown species of the six-gill sawshark, which is itself rarely seen.

Scientists have observed four new species of shark using their fins to walk across the sea floor, a motion rarely seen in the animals and one that affords them a strong advantage over the smaller creatures they prey on.

In certain parts of the world, people such as surfers stand a real risk of being bitten by sharks. According to a recent study, however, a lightweight wetsuit fabric could greatly reduce the seriousness of injuries when such attacks occur.

Though there are just six fatal shark attacks each year globally, going for a swim off the back of a boat is not a pastime undertaken lightly. Now there's a scientifically-proven device which deters sharks and enables far safer ocean swimming. Is keeping the kids safe worth US$3,000?

A new electronic tag has been attached to four tiger sharks in the Caribbean in a test of a new satellite-connected fish tracking system. Described by co-developer ESA as cheaper and more animal friendly, the new tags will help to monitor the sharks' migration patterns for years.