|
|
Article: Cute as a cookie? Not this shark.(ANIMAL ANGLES)(cookie-cutter shark)
- Article from:
- The Evening Standard (London, England)
- Article date:
- May 1, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 Carus Publishing Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
It's small, slow-moving, and glows, yet, the cookie-cutter shark (Isistius brasiliensis) feasts on large, fast fish and marine mammals. Tuna, swordfish, porpoises, and even other, bigger, sharks are often its prey. How does it do it?
According to Dr. Edith Widder, Senior Scientist at the Ocean Research and Conservation Association in Florida, it has a secret weapon: the dark patch on its sparkly underside. While other deep-sea creatures, such as anglerfish, use their bioluminescence (the ability to glow in the dark) as a lure, the cookie-cutter shark has a different approach. It waits. According to Widder, the dark spot lures ...