Apparently sharks are now interbreeding between species. The first discovery of hybrid sharks in the world was recently announced by scientists. What will they discover next? This amazing feat of nature was first found off the eastern coast of Australia. The researchers and scientists discovered multiple findings of interbreeding sharks, where the DNA within the test subjects, was a mixture from both the common blacktip sharp that is found in many waters around the world, and the Australian blacktip shark. The scientists stated that they found over 50 instances of the hybrid blacktip sharp.
This discovery is quite astounding, as it shows how this set of species has adapted to changes in its environment. While this recent news is confined an area off the Australian east coast, what other adaptations will scientists find, and how widespread is the new cross species? It is not yet known, how many other marine ecosystems around the world includes other cross-bred sharks or other fish species. Could there be new hybrids in the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic or Pacific oceans? It is quite possible based on these new findings.
How Do the Scientists Know?
The report discussed that the scientists used sophisticated DNA testing to measure and confirm the levels of DNA from each shark species within the hybrids that were found. How many other sharks are within that 2000 square mile area that are yet to be found. The researchers are still trying to determine what may be affecting this change of behavior, but speculation is that the sharks are reacting to global climate change and other environmental factors.
Video: Hybrid Shark
What new and different species will be found in the future?
More resources:
• The Blacktip shark is a type of requiem shark, and is in the family ‘Carcharhinidae’ and is common to subtropical and tropical waters around the globe. The species name is carcharhinus limbatus, (C. limbatus).
• www.physorg.com/news/2011-12-world-first-discovery-hybrid-sharks-australia.html