National

Six documented shark behaviors that created unease and curiosity

Stories by Real-Time News journalists, with AI summarization

Instances of apex predators like orcas hunting sharks mark a significant shift in marine dynamics, potentially creating an ecological "landscape of fear" and displacing key species. The discovery of typically solitary predators, such as prickly sharks, congregating raises questions about their habitat preferences and social behaviors.

Unusual predator-prey interactions, including young sharks displaying injuries from larger enemies, highlight the intricate food web and survival challenges sharks face.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

Scientists on a submarine spotted a gathering of 10 prickly sharks off the coast of Panama, the country’s first confirmed sighting, study said.

NO. 1: ‘ATYPICAL’ GATHERING OF ‘RARE’ DEEP-SEA PREDATORS SPOTTED FOR FIRST TIME IN PANAMA

Photos show the “prickly” sea creatures. | Published March 15, 2024 | Read Full Story by Aspen Pflughoeft

Blacktip Shark (Carcharhinus limbatus), Aliwal Shoal, Indian Ocean, South Africa

NO. 2: SHARK CAUGHT OFF NEW YORK HAD CHUNK BITTEN OUT BY AN EVEN BIGGER SHARK. SEE THE PHOTO

“Clearly, being a shark in the open ocean is not without risks.” | Published April 30, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mark Price

For the first time ever, orcas have been documented hunting sharks in a marine park off the coast of Mexico, researchers said.

NO. 3: MASSIVE CREATURES HUNTING SHARKS OFF MEXICO CREATE A ‘LANDSCAPE OF FEAR,’ STUDY SAYS

The apex predators were seen perpetrating a “coordinated attack” on a bull shark in 2022, researchers said. | Published June 18, 2024 | Read Full Story by Brendan Rascius

Indian Ocean, Dyer Island, South Africa

NO. 4: SHARK BITES 14-YEAR-OLD MISSOURI BOY IN 4TH ATTACK IN A WEEK, FLORIDA OFFICIALS SAY

Four people have been bitten by sharks in Volusia County in one week, officials said. | Published July 10, 2024 | Read Full Story by Olivia Lloyd

This species is not a common sighting in the waters off Massachusetts, local experts say.

NO. 5: TWO APEX PREDATORS DISCOVERED IN WASHINGTON WATERWAY FOR FIRST TIME, RESEARCHERS SAY

One of the creatures is critically endangered. | Published July 31, 2024 | Read Full Story by Helena Wegner

White sharks are opportunistic feeders are will attack and eat another shark, experts say. This is not the shark that bit the young shark off Rhode Island.

NO. 6: TEETH MARKS SHOW YOUNG SHARK’S HEAD WAS GRIPPED IN LARGER PREDATOR’S JAWS, EXPERTS SAY

The year-old shark was caught off Rhode Island, experts say. | Published September 11, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mark Price

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.