Retail reptiles shed negative image in year of the snake

Sneaky Fish Use Sharks Like Moving Shields While Hunting

Some fish are not just fast – they're smart. A team of scientists, including researchers from the University of Edinburgh, has revealed a never-seen-before hunting trick in the Mediterranean Sea. Small fish called blue runners hide behind sandbar sharks to sneak up on prey.

This behavior stands out. Fish often swim near sharks to avoid threats or shed parasites. But hiding behind a shark to launch a hunt? That's a first.

Fish use sharks as cover

Until now, scientists had noticed that fish sometimes trail sharks. This was usually for protection or parasite removal. Some even used sharks as moving shields to escape larger predators. But the new footage captured around Lampione Island in Italy shows something more calculated.

Over several years, divers and remotely operated vehicles recorded 34 separate cases of blue runners sneaking behind sharks. Each time, a lone blue runner shadowed a sandbar shark for about 30 seconds. Then, without warning, it broke away to dart at smaller fish, especially damselfish.

What changed wasn't just the fish's timing – but their approach. Blue runners typically hunt in groups. But these solo hunts seemed far more effective when combined with the shark's distraction.

Shark cover boosts hunting success

The team analyzed hours of underwater footage to understand the success of this hunting trick. The findings were clear. When blue runners used sharks as cover, prey detected them only 10 percent of the time.

In contrast, when they hunted as a group – without shark cover – their targets noticed them over 95 percent of the time.

The difference changed everything. Instead of fleeing or forming tight defensive schools, the damselfish and other prey stayed relaxed. The shark's presence seemed to lull them into a false sense of security, never realizing another predator swam in its shadow.

The blue runners also appeared to gain other benefits. Scientists believe that swimming behind the shark may help conserve energy, thanks to reduced water resistance. It may also offer safety, as predators are less likely to attack a fish moving close to a large shark.

A rare gathering of sharks

This remarkable behavior occurs in one of the few places in the Mediterranean where sandbar sharks still gather in groups.

Every summer, they return to the waters around Lampione Island, creating what scientists call an "aggregation." This kind of natural event is rare in these seas, especially as shark populations decline due to overfishing and habitat stress.

Because of the consistency and uniqueness of this site, the researchers had the chance to observe complex behaviors that would likely go unnoticed elsewhere.

Shark loss could affect hunting behavior

"The study highlights how interactions between species can drive alternative hunting tactics in marine ecosystems. Understanding these dynamics enriches our knowledge of marine biodiversity and underscores the importance of conserving high-level predators, like sharks," said Professor Fabio Badalamenti, of the University of Edinburgh and CNR-IAS Palermo.

"This unique interaction emphasizes the ecological importance of the few remaining shark aggregations, which can influence the structure and function of ecosystems," noted Dr. Carlo Cattano, of the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn.

"Lampione Island is one of only two known aggregation areas for the sandbar shark in the Mediterranean Sea. The ongoing decline in large shark populations due to overfishing could jeopardize associations like these, which could have knock-on effects on other species."

Hidden dynamics of fragile ecosystems

This behavior isn't just a cool trick of nature – it carries serious implications. The blue runners' strategy depends on the shark's presence. If sharks vanish, so might these unique hunting methods. As top predators decline, ripple effects may shift entire ecosystems in ways we don't yet understand.

Understanding these hidden dynamics reveals how fragile marine systems can be. Every player in the food web, no matter how strong or small, shapes the behavior of others.

Preserving biodiversity, then, isn't just about saving one species – it's about keeping the game of life in motion, with all its surprises intact.

The study's success resulted from collaboration across institutions. Scientists from the University of Edinburgh, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, the National Biodiversity Future Center, CNR-IAS, and the University of Palermo all played roles.​

Support from the Blue Marine Foundation and the National Geographic Society enabled long-term observation, which proved key in documenting this behavior over multiple seasons.

The research is published in the journal Ecology.

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BFAR Condemns Killing Of Pregnant Blue Shark In Agusan Del Norte

The blue shark killed by beachgoers in Barangay Cabayawa, Tubay in Agusan del Norte on Tuesday, 18 March 2025. Photo courtesy of JESSIE ORTEGA FB

Prosperidad, AGUSAN DEL SUR (MindaNews / 21 March) – The Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) Caraga has condemned the killing of a pregnant blue shark (Prionace glauca) in Barangay Cabayawa, Tubay in  Agusan del Norte on Tuesday, March 18.

In a statement posted on its official Facebook page on Wednesday, the agency denounced the incident after videos of beachgoers attacking and capturing the shark went viral.

"As an agency committed to the conservation and sustainable management of our fisheries and aquatic resources, we remind the public of the important role that sharks play in maintaining the health of our ocean ecosystems," DA-BFAR Caraga said.

The agency noted that sharks, as apex predators, are crucial to regulating marine biodiversity, which supports local fisheries and coastal ecosystems.

Based on its initial investigation, DA-BFAR Caraga reported that the 2.76-meter-long and 0.53-meter-wide blue shark was mistakenly identified as a large tuna or marlin.

"Due to fear and misunderstanding, beachgoers attacked and captured the weakened shark, which was found with a hook in its mouth and injuries on its head and tail," the agency said.

It also revealed that the shark had already begun giving birth when it was captured, releasing a total of 30 pups—29 of which were successfully returned to the sea.

However, netizens refuted the claim that it was a case of mistaken identity. Some Facebook users pointed out that in the viral video, individuals could be heard referring to the creature as "iho," the Bisaya word for shark.

"Kita mo's video nga gibira sa mga alleged 'beachgoers' ang ikog sa shark, nya gibunalan pa gyud pag-abot sa baybay, nya naa pay cgeg singgit nga 'Iho! They knew it was a shark, hence pulling it offshore and killing it to avoid being 'eaten' or harmed by it. Dapat ipatawag tung nagbira sa ikog ug nagbunal sa shark! They should be held accountable for what they did," Facebook user Ca Thy Llames commented on DA-BFAR Caraga's statement.

(Did you see the video where the alleged 'beachgoers' dragged the shark by its tail, then hit it when it reached the shore, while some were repeatedly shouting 'Shark!'? They knew it was a shark, hence pulling it offshore and killing it to avoid being 'eaten' or harmed by it. Those who dragged its tail and hit the shark should be summoned! They should be held accountable for what they did!)

DA-BFAR Caraga assured the public that further investigations are ongoing.

The agency stated that harming, killing, or trading protected marine wildlife is illegal under the Philippine Fisheries Code.

"Anyone found responsible for harming or killing protected shark species and other marine wildlife may face an administrative fine equivalent to as high as five (5) times the value of the species or P500,000 or even up to P5 million. If convicted in court, the offender shall be punished by imprisonment of 12 years and one day to 20 years and a fine equivalent to twice the administrative fine," DA-BFAR said.

DA-BFAR has urged local government units, fisherfolk, and coastal communities to respect and protect marine wildlife.

"The loss of these key species, especially a pregnant female, disrupts the ecological balance and may negatively impact our marine resources and the livelihoods of coastal communities," DA-BFAR Caraga said.

According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the blue shark is classified as "Near Threatened" globally. (Ivy Marie Mangadlao / MindaNews)

New Oregon License Plate Features One Of State's Most Misunderstood Animals

Feeling a little down lately?

Maybe it's time for a new license plate that shouts fearlessness, tenacity and resilience.

The "Vibrant Ocean" specialty plate features three shark species commonly found in Oregon.

Proceeds from sales of the plates will benefit Oregon State University's Big Fish Lab, which focuses on shark research. The lab, established in 2019, is based at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport.

Proceeds will be used to better understand the role sharks play in Oregon's coastal marine ecosystem, to conduct outreach and education efforts and hold trainings for students and staff.

Oregon State hopes anyone interested will sink their teeth into the $40 pre-sale vouchers for the plate. They're available from the university, with $35 going directly to the research lab. The lab must sell 3,000 vouchers before the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles starts making the plates.

Sharks aren't the mindless killers of Hollywood, said Taylor Chapple, an assistant professor and founder of the Big Fish Lab. They're apex predators responsible for regulating the abundance, distribution and diversity of other species, he said. Sharks also are threatened due to overfishing, habitat loss, climate change and pollution.

Fifteen species of sharks live off the Oregon coast. Their exact numbers aren't known and they change depending on the season, Chapple said.

Shark attacks are extraordinarily rare in Oregon. The only fatality of the 31 documented shark attacks in the state happened in 1975, when a California couple's boat capsized 200 miles northwest of Astoria.

"Sharks are not delicious or cuddly but they're critically important," Chapple said.

The license plate was designed by Natalie Donato, a third-year undergraduate student from Folsom, California who is studying marine biology and ecology at OSU's College of Science. Donato's design features a salmon shark in the center, with two blue sharks on the left and a common thresher shark on the right.

The shark plate is the most recent in a series of specialty license plates benefiting Oregon State . They include the bee plate, which launched in 2023, and the gray whale plate, which launched in 2019.

The DMV will also issue a new Beaver plate, which supports the university's athletics and marketing initiatives, starting April 7.

— Gosia Wozniacka covers environmental justice, climate change, the clean energy transition and other environmental issues. Reach her at gwozniacka@oregonian.Com or 971-421-3154.

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