Jul 26, 2026 11:26 PM
(This post was last modified: Jul 27, 2026 07:20 PM by C C.)
Sharks, spines and speed: The hidden architecture behind different swimming styles
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1137557
INTRO: “Shark Week,” which kicks off this week, has captivated audiences for decades with stories of these powerful ocean predators. But the secret behind their extraordinary swimming abilities lies far deeper than their impressive teeth or iconic tails – it’s hidden inside their spines.
For more than 400 million years, sharks have evolved a unique cartilage-based skeleton that provides the strength and flexibility needed to endure millions of powerful movements. While scientists understand how shark muscles drive different swimming styles, far less is known about how the internal structure of their spines helps them achieve remarkable speed, agility and endurance.
Now, Florida Atlantic University researchers and collaborators from NOAA Fisheries are taking a closer look inside the shark spine to uncover how its hidden design enables these ancient predators to move with such power, precision and stamina.
The new study, published in the Journal of Anatomy, reveals that the internal architecture of shark vertebrae is remarkably specialized, with each species evolving a vertebral column uniquely suited to the way it moves through the water. By examining the intricate mineralized structures inside the cartilaginous vertebrae of six species – the great white, shortfin mako, porbeagle, common thresher, sand tiger and basking shark – researchers discovered that the spine is far more than a flexible support column. It’s a finely engineered biomechanical system designed to maximize strength, flexibility and swimming efficiency.
To uncover these hidden adaptations, the research team analyzed vertebrae collected from different regions of each shark’s spine. Using high-resolution micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), they created detailed 3D images that allowed them to look inside the vertebrae without damaging them... (MORE - no ads)
Orcas filmed ramming one of the world’s heaviest fish so hard it explodes, possibly for fun
https://www.frontiersin.org/news/2026/07...h-explodes
INTRO: A sunfish being blown to bits is the result of a never before described behavior of an orca pod in the Gulf of California. Researchers observed two separate events in which one orca held a sunfish carcass by the fin and another torpedoed toward it, blowing it into smithereens. The behavior could be a way to portion off more manageable pieces of food for calves present during the interaction, but it’s also possible that it serves an entirely different function: fun. The team said more observations of such events involving sunfish are needed to determine the exact ecological and evolutionary significance of the strategies in orca populations.
Orcas are known to be smart and ruthless hunters. They’ve been observed hunting a variety of prey, with some species, such as whales, larger than them. They use a wide range of strategies to hunt and kill prey, but now, in the Gulf of California, researchers have observed one that hasn’t been described before.
“We document how one orca holds the sunfish and lets go just before another orca hits it at high speed, causing the tissue to break apart into thousands of pieces,” said first author of the Frontiers in Ethology article, Dr Kathryn Ayres, a scientist at Beneath The Waves, a non-profit organization promoting ocean health. “We think this may help younger orcas feed more easily or it could also just be for fun. Orcas are known for playing with their food.” (MORE - details)
https://youtu.be/r02T9w47foU
https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/r02T9w47foU
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1137557
INTRO: “Shark Week,” which kicks off this week, has captivated audiences for decades with stories of these powerful ocean predators. But the secret behind their extraordinary swimming abilities lies far deeper than their impressive teeth or iconic tails – it’s hidden inside their spines.
For more than 400 million years, sharks have evolved a unique cartilage-based skeleton that provides the strength and flexibility needed to endure millions of powerful movements. While scientists understand how shark muscles drive different swimming styles, far less is known about how the internal structure of their spines helps them achieve remarkable speed, agility and endurance.
Now, Florida Atlantic University researchers and collaborators from NOAA Fisheries are taking a closer look inside the shark spine to uncover how its hidden design enables these ancient predators to move with such power, precision and stamina.
The new study, published in the Journal of Anatomy, reveals that the internal architecture of shark vertebrae is remarkably specialized, with each species evolving a vertebral column uniquely suited to the way it moves through the water. By examining the intricate mineralized structures inside the cartilaginous vertebrae of six species – the great white, shortfin mako, porbeagle, common thresher, sand tiger and basking shark – researchers discovered that the spine is far more than a flexible support column. It’s a finely engineered biomechanical system designed to maximize strength, flexibility and swimming efficiency.
To uncover these hidden adaptations, the research team analyzed vertebrae collected from different regions of each shark’s spine. Using high-resolution micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), they created detailed 3D images that allowed them to look inside the vertebrae without damaging them... (MORE - no ads)
Orcas filmed ramming one of the world’s heaviest fish so hard it explodes, possibly for fun
https://www.frontiersin.org/news/2026/07...h-explodes
INTRO: A sunfish being blown to bits is the result of a never before described behavior of an orca pod in the Gulf of California. Researchers observed two separate events in which one orca held a sunfish carcass by the fin and another torpedoed toward it, blowing it into smithereens. The behavior could be a way to portion off more manageable pieces of food for calves present during the interaction, but it’s also possible that it serves an entirely different function: fun. The team said more observations of such events involving sunfish are needed to determine the exact ecological and evolutionary significance of the strategies in orca populations.
Orcas are known to be smart and ruthless hunters. They’ve been observed hunting a variety of prey, with some species, such as whales, larger than them. They use a wide range of strategies to hunt and kill prey, but now, in the Gulf of California, researchers have observed one that hasn’t been described before.
“We document how one orca holds the sunfish and lets go just before another orca hits it at high speed, causing the tissue to break apart into thousands of pieces,” said first author of the Frontiers in Ethology article, Dr Kathryn Ayres, a scientist at Beneath The Waves, a non-profit organization promoting ocean health. “We think this may help younger orcas feed more easily or it could also just be for fun. Orcas are known for playing with their food.” (MORE - details)
https://youtu.be/r02T9w47foU
