A stunning aerial photo captures the coordinated attack of four blacktip reef sharks on a school of hardyhead silverside fish in the Maldives, sparking new insights into shark behavior and its impact on marine ecosystems.
A Bird’s Eye View of a Shark Hunt: Winning Photo Captures Coordinated Attack
A school of hardyhead silverside fish (Atherinomorus lacunosus) flees from four blacktip reef sharks near the shore of the Maldives in this aerial photo.
The blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) is a species of requiem shark that inhabits shallow, tropical waters.
They are found in coral reefs and coastal areas throughout the Indo-Pacific region.
Blacktip reef sharks have distinctive black tips on their fins and can grow up to 1.8 meters in length.
They feed on small fish, squid, and crustaceans.
These sharks are apex predators but are also vulnerable to habitat loss and overfishing.
Behavioral biologists Angela Albi and August Paula captured the image, a still frame from drone footage, during a study of how sharks interact with each other and their prey. The researchers are trying to determine whether the sharks coordinate their attacks on schools of fish.
Sharks are apex predators that have been on the planet for over 400 million years.
They have a highly developed sense of smell and can detect a single drop of blood in 100 liters of water.
Sharks are carnivores and feed on a variety of prey, including 'fish', seals, and other marine mammals.
They are known to be solitary animals, only coming together to mate or defend their territory.
Some shark species are migratory, traveling long distances to find food or suitable habitats.
Blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) are social animals that often gather and circle within schools of fish. In this photo, four juveniles can be seen chasing a school of hardyhead silverside fish. The image won the 2024 Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition, which received submissions from scientists around the world.
The study aims to understand the complex interactions between sharks and their prey. By analyzing these interactions, researchers hope to gain insights into the behavior of these apex predators and how they impact marine ecosystems.
Coordinated Attacks: A Key Aspect of Shark Behavior
Sharks are known to be social animals that often hunt in groups. However, it is unclear whether they coordinate their attacks on prey. The researchers behind this study are trying to answer this question by analyzing the behavior of sharks in different situations.
Winning Photo Captures Shark Hunt
The aerial photo captured by Angela Albi and August Paula shows a school of hardyhead silverside fish fleeing from four blacktip reef sharks near the shore of the Maldives. The image was taken using drone footage and is a still frame from the video.
The study’s findings have important implications for our understanding of shark behavior and their impact on marine ecosystems. By studying these complex interactions, researchers hope to gain insights into the behavior of these apex predators and how they can be managed sustainably.
- sciencenews.org | This bird’s eye view of a shark hunt won a photo contest
