A group of researchers, led by Han Tian, threw the body of a cow in front of the island of Hainan for Simulate the sinking of a whale and study the behavior of marine scavengers. The experiment revealed the presence of eight specimens of the Pacific sleeping shark (Somniosus pacificus), a species that had never been documented in that region before.
The discovery not only expands knowledge about geographical distribution of this species, usual in the north of the Pacific Ocean, but also provides new data on its behavior, social hierarchies and physiological adaptations.
A new location for a little known species
He Sleeping Shark of the Pacific It is usually found from Japan to Alaska and to the south to Baja California, so its appearance in southern China waters poses questions about its possible displacement for environmental causes, such as climate change, or the existence of populations not yet registered in the area.
Researchers consider that this detection may be due, rather than a recent change, to the lack of systematic data in a little explored ocean region.
In fact, according to the team led by Han Tian, these copies have frequently appeared in the southwest of the China Sea, which suggests a stable presence previously ignored by scientific literature.
Organized and hierarchical behavior
The underwater recordings captured during the experiment showed unusual eating behavior among large predators: The sharks aligned and gave way to each other To access the carrion.
This “shift system” suggests the existence of an order based on the Individual competition More than violent clashes, indicating a possible more complex social organization than was thought.
In addition, behavior differences were observed according to body size. The largest specimens were more aggressive in the approach to the body, while The smallest sharks acted with greater cautionapproaching in circles.
Evolutionary adaptations and visual parasites
Another documented aspect was ocular retraction during food, a behavior that could be a defensive strategy. In the absence of a nicitating membrane – a protective structure present in other species -, This retraction would allow protecting the eyes during carrion consumption or eventual struggles.
Also, several sharks presented visible parasites in their eyes, identified as copepods, although it was not possible to determine the exact species. This finding reinforces the similarity between the sleeping sharks of the Pacific and those of Greenland, also known for hosting this type of parasites.
Beyond sharks: a diverse ecosystem
Vaca’s body attracted other abyssal organisms, such as Caracol fish and numerous amphipodswhich shows that the depths of the South China Sea house a richer biodiversity than was thought. These data contradict the belief that deep tropical ecosystems are less productive than polar.
The use of a cow as a whale analogue turned out to be an effective tool to study interactions in an inaccessible environment. The appearance of sharks with defined social patterns, specific physical adaptations and complex ecological relationships underlines the value of this type of research.
In a global context marked by climate change and the growing human intervention in the oceans, these studies are key to understanding the dynamics of the most remote ecosystems on the planet.
*This content was written with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on public knowledge information disclosed to the media. In addition, he was reviewed by the journalist and an editor.