Hybrid Shark Discovered Off Australia

In 2012, researchers discovered a previously unknown type of hybrid shark along Australia’s eastern coastline. While the term “hybrid shark” might sound like something out of a second-rate horror movie, there’s nothing to fear in this case. The sharks are mixes of two species of blacktip sharks, the common blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) and the Australian blacktip (Carcharhinus tilstoni).

While the former typically lives in temperate waters, the latter inhabits only Australian waters, along the tropical north and northeastern coasts. The new species lives in both types of water. Its habitat stretches more than 1,200-miles, from tropical Brisbane in the north to the chillier waters off Sydney in the south.

An expedition tasked with studying shark populations along Australia’s coasts discovered the species. The researchers first realized that they were dealing with something new when the genetic markers of one of the sharks showed up as one species, while the animal’s physical characteristics matched those of a different animal.

Hybridization in nature

The concept of hybrid species is not unknown in the animal world. The most commonly found species is the mule, which is a hybrid of a female horse and a male donkey. Killer bees also count as a hybrid species, and came about when scientists crossed a European honeybee with an African bee, ironically in an attempt to create a tamer, more manageable bee. Marine biologists have long thought that interbreeding between sharks, resulting in hybrid sharks, was theoretically possible. But this new discovery has moved the hypothesis from theoretical possibility to fact.

How many hybrids?

The 10 researchers who were part of the discovery identified several generations of the species and a total of 57 individual animals. This is the first species of hybrid shark ever found, and was the result of interspecies mating between the two types of blacktip sharks. Researchers hypothesize that the hybrid shark may be better equipped to live in oceans affected by global warming, as very few other species of sharks are able to exist in such diverse temperatures.

“We are now seeing individuals carrying the more tropical species genes in more southerly areas,” says Colin Simpfendorfer from James Cook University, one of the study’s co-authors.

“In a changing climate, this hybridization may therefore allow these species to better adapt to different conditions.”

While the idea of combining existing shark species and producing a new species with the best of both sounds like a Bond villain’s dream come true, we shouldn’t worry that we’ll now see hordes of super-sharks cruising the seas. The close resemblance between the two species makes interspecies mating much more likely than more diverse species of sharks, the researchers behind the study point out.

“It doesn’t mean we’re going to see great-white-tiger sharks anytime soon, or bull-Greenland sharks,” says Demian Chapman, assistant director of science at Stony Brook University’s Institute for Ocean Conservation Science If any species was going to hybridize, it was going to be this pair.”

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The Galapagos Evolution Expedition

Cressi is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year — and that called for something special. The epic Galapagos Evolution expedition (#galapagosexpedition) was the result. Cressi Ambassadors from around the world met in the incomparable Galapagos Islands for a collaboration of free divers and scuba divers in the spirit of conservation instead of competition.

With the expedition, Cressi sought for people to understand that as humans, we have the power to change and develop — to evolve. There was no better place than the Galapagos, the cradle of evolution. We’ve got all the technological advancements in the world, but without real human change, technology is meaningless. Our evolution to become more conservation-minded can have a huge positive impact on the marine environment. Only species that are most responsive to change can survive, as Charles Darwin once said, but only if we can evolve and adapt to change together.

The final outcome of the expedition will be a documentary featuring all Cressi Ambassadors. It it, they’ll promote conservation and co-existence of marine life and marine sanctuaries, marking the first time a freediving expedition to the Galapagos was recorded with scuba divers’ help.

Participating in the expedition were a number of freediving legends, including Guillaume Néry, professional freediver and world champion, Roberto Ochoa, videographer for Planeta Azul Ocean Conservation television show, Ocean Ramsey, marine biologist and competitive freediver, Leo Morales, scuba world record holder, Pierre Cousteau, Cousteau Divers founder, Juan Oliphant, underwater photographer, Estrella Navarro, professional freediver, Natalie Parra, free diver and environmentalist, and Pelayo Salinas, marine scientist for the Charles Darwin Foundation.

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What entrepreneurial journalism can do for legacy newsrooms

Many journalists have left traditional news organisations to venture into the world of entrepreneurial journalism and set up their own media businesses. And, while it's easier to start from scratch, entrepreneurship has a important role to play within traditional newsrooms too - it helps setting up much-needed systems and processes to better adapt to what our audience actually needs.

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Peter Fray: The future of journalism rests on entrepreneurship

One of Australia's most experienced and innovative media professionals, Peter Fray, has deep experience in transition within legacy news organisations. As a 2016 Tow-Knight entrepreneurial fellow, he has fully embraced the practice of entrepreneurial journalism and now passes it on to a new generation of journalists at the University of Technology in Sydney, where he is professor of journalism practice. 

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Dive Site: Kirby’s Rock, Anilao, Philippines

Divers begin to explore Kirby’s Rock in Anilao by leaving the dive boat near a rocky wall with a little wave action. After dropping down to about 20 feet (6 m) or so, you’ll start to see soft and hard corals and schools of reef fish. Within five minutes, we saw a large purple frogfish. He was just hanging out on the rock wall at around 30 feet (10 m).

Kirby’s Rock

After navigating along the wall for a bit, you’ll swim out to Kirby’s Rock. When we first saw this large rock, we thought yellow nudibranchs were covering it. We were astounded by the quantity of them. But upon closer inspection, instead of nudis, we discovered they were actually small sea cucumbers. This was still very cool since there were so many of them. As we made our way around the rock, we saw multiple moray eels hiding in their holes and one free-swimming. Hard and soft corals were abundant on the rock, including gorgonians and crinoids in a range of colors. Keep an eye out for scorpionfish and lionfish as well, and look closely for nudis here and there.

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This Week's News Items for Social Workers 8/27/16

News items of interest to social workers for the week of 8/27/26.

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The Best Diving in Marsa Alam

Until recent years, the diving in Marsa Alam, Egypt was relatively unknown. This small town on the western shore of the Red Sea is poised for discovery due to pristine reefs and the lack of crowds often found at other Red Sea diving towns. Marsa Alam is by far the best spot from which to explore the southern Red Sea, appealing to experienced divers looking for challenging dives and unique wildlife experiences. Sites offer the opportunity to dive with dolphins, sea turtles, dugongs and manta rays from May through August. There are whale sharks, as well as a variety of other shark species, from May through June. While it’s best to have some experience when diving Marsa Alam, local dive sites also offer a quiet and scenic spot for dive students or those who seek less demanding dives.

The dive season is year-round, though late summer and early autumn have the warmest sea temperature: 84 F (29 C) in August compared to 73 F (23 C) in December. Given that August is also peak diving season, we recommend visiting in autumn when the area is quieter and the water temperature is still balmy. Depending on your cold tolerance, pack a 3 mm or 5 mm wetsuit, and always carry a dive knife, torch, and DSMB. Expect water visibility up to 100 feet (30 m), but make sure to ask an expert about local dive sites and sea conditions before diving unguided. With that said, here are our picks for the best diving in Marsa Alam.

Elphinstone Reef (Sha’ab Abu Hamra)

Where is it: This reef lies in the open ocean, a little over seven miles (12 km) from the Marsa Abu Dabbab coastline. It takes around 20 minutes to get there via Zodiac from Marsa Alam, weather permitting. It takes two hours via motorized boat from Port Ghalib.

What makes it special: This site attracts shark-seeking divers from around the world, on the hunt for oceanic whitetip and hammerhead sharks. It’s one of the world’s few remaining sites where divers can regularly see these sharks, in fact.

Details: Only experienced divers should visit Elphinstone Reef. The open-ocean site is famous for strong and ever-changing currents, deep caves and coral plateaus. A dive depth of 100 feet (30 m) is sufficient for most exploration, but there are interesting features at greater depths, such the sarcophagus archway at 170 to 213 feet (52 to 65 m), accessible only to trained technical divers.

When to go: You can see sharks year round, but they are most numerous from October to December.

The Brothers Islands

Where is it: These two rocky islands sit almost 44 miles (70 km) offshore from Al-Qusayr (also El Quseir), about an hour north of Marsa Alam.

What makes it special: This area has been designated as a Marine Protectorate since 1983, and is known as one of the world’s top dive locations. The islands’ sheer drop-offs offer spectacular wall diving with the opportunity to see abundant soft corals, gorgonian fans and large pelagics, such as gray reef, silky, silvertip and hammerhead sharks, tuna, jacks and the occasional thresher shark.

Details: The Brothers are for experienced divers only and the Egyptian port authorities require a minimum of 50 logged dives to be allowed access. The islands are subject to strong currents and waves, and exploration of the wrecks and reefs beyond 130 feet (40 m) is for experienced technical divers only. The Brothers can be reached by liveaboard only; boats depart regularly from Marsa Alam.

When to go: Visit at the end of spring and fall for favorable sea conditions and fewer crowds at the dive sites.

Daedalus Reef

Where is it: This remote reef is 50 to 56 miles (80 to 90 km) from Marsa Alam and lies within a marine park.

What makes it special: The reef is less than a mile wide and, due to its remote location, dive boats visit less frequently than other area dive sites. It offers pristine hard and soft corals and deep walls. Hammerhead sharks are frequent visitors.

Details: Daedalus is for experienced divers only and is subject to strong currents, waves and surface swells that make the entry and exit conditions challenging. The abundance of marine life is well worth braving the elements, however, and both the eastern and western walls provide interesting drift dives. At the southern point of the reef, keep an eye out for thresher sharks. Dive depths range from 16 to 130 feet (5 to 40 m) and the reef is only accessible via liveaboard.

When to go: Accessible all year, though we recommend the end of spring and autumn as above.

Elphinstone Reef, The Brothers and Daedalus Reef are often combined within liveaboard itineraries, making for a convenient way explore the southern Red Sea. Try aggressor.com.

Dolphin House (Sha’ab Samadai)

Where is it: You can easily reach this offshore reef and lagoon with an 80-minute boat ride from Marsa Alam.

What makes it special: This popular reef is home to a large family of approximately 60 spinner dolphins, and it’s possible to snorkel and swim with them. The reef also offers great dive sites with swim-throughs, pinnacles and coral formations.

Details: Dolphin House is suitable for non-divers and divers of all experience levels. The conditions are usually easy and there are frequent boat trips to Dolphin House from Marsa Alam. A number of operators offer day trips, and liveaboards often also visit this reef as part of their itinerary.

When to go: Accessible all year

Abu Dabbab

Where is it: This sandy bay area is a little over 18 miles (30 km) north of Marsa Alam.

What makes it special: This shore site is popular with divers and non-divers alike and provides colorful snorkeling and shallow diving. You’re quite likely to see sea turtles grazing the sea grass meadows. You may also see guitar sharks and the very rare and endangered dugong.

Details: Abu Dabbab is suitable for everyone from snorkelers to novice and experienced divers. Dive depths range from 13 to 60 feet (4 to 18 m), and Emperor Divers offers a half-day trip to the area. Based at the bay, Abu Dabbab Dive Lodge offers divers the chance to explore the local diving for longer periods of time.

When to go: Accessible all year

Hamada Wreck

Where is it: The Hamada sank off a secluded shoreline south of Wadi El Gamal National Park in 1993. It sits 42 miles (68 km) southeast of Marsa Alam.

What makes it special: The wreck is unique in that it’s suitable for snorkelers, as well as experienced and novice divers. Qualified divers can also penetrate certain areas of the wreck. As a relatively new wreck, the masts and ropes are still intact. They are home to young corals, while the wreck itself is home to a number of species, including humphead wrasse, lionfish and moray eels.

Details: Dive depth ranges from 0 to 60 feet (0-18 m). Emperor Divers offers day trips to explore the wreck and enjoy the secluded bay.

When to go: Accessible all year

 

 

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