Rare Sighting of Potential Newborn Great White Shark Sparks Excitement in Shark Science
In a groundbreaking discovery, a potential newborn great white shark has been spotted off the coast of California near Santa Barbara. This rare sighting has ignited excitement in the field of shark science, as it could provide crucial insights into the birthing habits and conservation of these endangered species.
The sighting took place on July 9, 2023, when wildlife filmmaker Carlos Gauna and UC Riverside biology doctoral student Phillip Sternes were scanning the waters for sharks. Little did they know that they were about to witness something extraordinary. As they peered through the viewfinder of Gauna’s drone camera, they spotted a shark pup unlike any they had ever seen before.
Great white sharks, known as the world’s largest predatory fish and infamous for their involvement in deadly human attacks, are not typically associated with newborn babies. This is mainly because no one has ever seen a live newborn great white in the wild, until now.
The newborn shark they observed was approximately 5 feet long and pure white in color. Upon closer examination, Gauna and Sternes noticed that the white layer on the shark’s body was being shed as it swam. Sternes believes that this shedding process indicates that they had witnessed a newborn white shark shedding its embryonic layer.
These remarkable observations have been documented in a new paper published in the Environmental Biology of Fishes journal. The paper not only highlights the significance of this sighting but also emphasizes the potential breakthrough it represents in understanding great white shark birthing habits.
Carlos Gauna, also known as The Malibu Artist, has dedicated countless hours to filming sharks around the world. His videos, which often capture sharks swimming close to beachgoers, have garnered millions of views. Gauna’s expertise and contribution to shark science cannot be overstated, and his collaboration with Sternes may finally shed light on the elusive mystery of great white birthing locations.
The birthplaces of great white sharks have long been a subject of fascination and speculation among scientists. Gauna explains, “Where white sharks give birth is one of the holy grails of shark science. No one has ever been able to pinpoint where they are born, nor has anyone seen a newborn baby shark alive. There have been dead white sharks found inside deceased pregnant mothers, but nothing like this.”
While the possibility remains that the white film shed by the shark could be a skin condition, Gauna and Sternes are confident that they have witnessed a newborn great white. Gauna argues, “If that is what we saw, then that too is monumental because no such condition has ever been reported for these sharks.”
Several pieces of evidence support their theory of a newborn great white. Firstly, female great whites give birth to live pups, which receive nourishment from unfertilized eggs and a milk-like substance secreted by the mother. Sternes suggests that what they observed was the baby shark shedding this intrauterine milk.
Secondly, Gauna had previously observed large pregnant great whites in the same location. In the weeks leading up to the sighting, he had filmed three pregnant sharks in the area. Gauna recalls, “On this day, one of them dove down, and not long afterward, this fully white shark appears. It’s not a stretch to deduce where the baby came from.”
The size and shape of the shark further support the theory of it being a newborn. Gauna and Sternes describe it as thin, short, and rounded, characteristics typical of a recently born shark. Sternes estimates that the shark they observed was likely only a few hours or at most one day old.
Finally, the location off the coast of central California has long been speculated as a potential birthing ground for great whites. Sternes explains, “There are a lot of hypothetical areas, but despite intense interest in these sharks, no one’s seen a birth or a newborn pup in the wild. This may well be the first evidence we have of a pup in the wild, making this a definitive birthing location.”
The significance of this sighting cannot be overstated, especially considering that great whites are listed as an international endangered species. Further research is needed to confirm whether these waters are indeed a great white breeding ground. If proven true, Sternes emphasizes the importance of protecting these waters to ensure the continued thriving of white sharks.
The discovery of a potential newborn great white shark off the California coast has opened up new possibilities for shark science. Gauna and Sternes’ observations have provided valuable insights into the birthing habits of these elusive creatures. As researchers continue to study and protect these endangered species, this rare sighting serves as a reminder of the wonders that await us in the depths of the ocean.
