Hidden Sharks: Surprising Discovery of Sand Catsharks Living Inside Sea Sponges
Scientists have made the first known observation of a shark species, specifically banded sand catsharks, living inside sea sponges. During two voyages off the coast of north-western Australia, researchers discovered a total of 57 catsharks hiding in five large sponges. This behavior, previously unseen in sharks or other elasmobranchs, suggests that sponges may serve as microhabitats for certain shark species. The sharks likely use the sponges as a hiding place during the day to avoid predators, and this behavior may also benefit the sponges by potentially reducing the number of invertebrate species that prey on them. The discovery highlights the importance of intraspecific relationships between organisms and the need for further research on shark behavior in the ocean.