Very Interesting – July-August 2019

NIFTY

MOVER.

BONNETHEAD SHARK

SPHYRNA TIBURO

While chasing prey, bonnethead sharks turn

incredibly sharply. Scientists originally thought

their odd-shaped heads might help their

acrobatics, but their heads stay flat as they turn

• so probably not. Summer’s bonnethead scan
  revealed their secret. Most sharks are circular
  in cross-section behind their heads. The
  bonnethead’s body is shaped like a pumpkin
  seed making it super aerodynamic. “That
  means they can turn really well,” says Summer.

.BLUE RAY

BUTTERFLY RAY GYMNURA SPECIES

Butterfly rays are found in warm oceans and

appear to ‘fly’ through the water by moving their

fins up and down. Interconnected segments of

the fine fin rays, visible in this stained image,

could be the key to translating that up-down

motion into underwater flight. As the skeletons

of rays, skates and sharks are made of cartilage

and not bone, they stain blue rather than red.

DADDY

DAY CARE

TUBE-SNOUT AULORHYNCHUS FLAVIDUS

Relatives of the seahorse,
tube-snouts are the size of
pencils and often swim together
in large schools. The females
are drab and well-camouflaged,
while the males have shining
patches on their snouts and
bright red fins. Females lay eggs
on kelp, sticking them in place
with goo secreted by their
kidneys. Males then guard the
nests against predators.