Thursday, September 18th, 2008
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water… scientists have catalogued and described 100 new species of sharks and rays in Australian waters.
More than 90 of the newly named species were actually identified by scientists in a 1994 book “Sharks and Rays of Australia” but had remained scientifically undescribed.
One rare species of carpet shark catalogued was found in the belly of another shark.
The new names and descriptions will now be featured in a revised 2009 edition of the book.
[source]
Thursday, February 28th, 2008
Fossilized remains of a 150-million-year-old 15-metre pliosaur were found in the Arctic island chain of Svalbard. At 50 feet long, it’s the biggest marine predator of all time. With jaws four times the strength of a crocodile’s, and razor sharp teeth, i’m sure it did some major damage.
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Thursday, November 22nd, 2007
The remains of a super-sized sea monster bigger than a person have been found by scientists in Germany.
The scary looking scorpion was around 8 feet long, and grabbed its food with 18″ claws.
It’s the biggest sea scorpion ever found, and experts think other beasties like insects, spiders and crabs were loads bigger millions of years ago.
The creature has been given the name Jaekelopterus rhenaniae.
Click here to see a computer animation the sea scorpion in action.
[source]
Monday, November 19th, 2007
Natal Sharks Board and Australian scientists hope to breed ragged-tooth sharks in artificial, plastic wombs, as part of a ground-breaking shark conservation project.
If the experiment works, the embryonic, laboratory-reared shark pups will be sent to Australia to strengthen the dwindling population of ragged-tooths along the Great Barrier Reef and the New South Wales coastline.
Hunting and fishing have left ragged-tooth sharks critically endangered along the eastern coastline of Australia, and scientists fear they are headed for extinction unless their population numbers can be dramatically improved.
Nick Otway, a senior research scientist with the New South Wales department of primary industries, said the artificial breeding project was considered essential because raggies did not breed well in captivity and cannibalism in the uterus was a problem.
Unborn ragged-tooth sharks eat their siblings in the womb, reducing the number of pups that are finally born.
But if the pups can be removed from the shark’s uterus and raised in an artificial womb, it may be possible to boost the population.
So in other words… get ready for more sharks, Aussies!
[source]
