- Scientists have discovered sharks that live in one of the most active underwater volcanoes in the ocean.
- The sharks seem to adapt well to their strange house, although researchers can not determine why they prefer the area.
- One theory suggests that prey fish are plentiful there, making for easy hunting.
There are many places scientists would expect to find sharks in the ocean. Inside the bubbling cave of an active marine volcano there is actually not one of them. However, when researchers began exploring the Kavachi volcano in the Solomon Islands with underwater cameras, that’s exactly what they found.
A whole bunch of sharks of various species had flown to the volcano despite a recent eruption. Apparently unrestricted by the fact that ultra-hot liquid rock flowed just below them, the sharks lay perfectly at home. But why? Since that discovery in 2015, researchers have been trying to answer this whole question.
The underwater volcano is very active, and eruptions are frequent. With that in mind, you would think it would be a pretty dangerous place for sharks to congregate. Scientists have suggested that the animals adapted to this strange environment thanks in large part to a special function of their bodies called the Lorenzini ampoule.
As 9News explains, it is a collection of pores near the shark’s snout that allows them to sense changes in the earth’s magnetic field, which could give them an early warning that the volcano is about to break out and can zip them at a safe distance.
“It looked like the sharks in the volcano were used to dealing with eruptions,” said Professor Michael Heithaus, who studied the sharks for several years. 9News. “You would think it’s dangerous, but studies have shown us that they can detect oncoming hurricanes and cyclones, so they may be able to detect when something bad is about to happen and get out of the way.”
But why are sharks attracted to the volcano in the first place? That is a question that still needs to be answered, although there are some solid theories.
“Extreme environments are something they can handle clearly; whether it is a volcano or surviving thousands of meters under water, ”explains Professor Heithaus. ‘It is not yet known why they are there. It may have something to do with reproduction, or who knows what else lives in it. Maybe she just cut out a meal. ”
The idea that the sharks would choose the area as a hunting ground makes good sense, because fishermen would probably avoid the active volcano, allowing prey fish to thrive nearby and giving the sharks plenty to eat. Or maybe they just love living in a sauna.
Mike Wehner has reported on technology and video games for the past decade, covering breaking news and trends in VR, wearables, smartphones, and future tech. Most recently, Mike served as Tech Editor at The Daily Dot, and has appeared in USA Today, Time.com, and countless other web and print stores. His love for reporting is second only to his game addiction.
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