Great White Shark Disappearance Ignites Search for New Super Predator

[astr0144]

Great White Shark Disappearance Ignites Search for New Super Predator

When looking at incredibly detailed satellite photos of the Earth, or following turn-by-turn directions on the street, it's easy to forget how much we still don't know about our planet. The deep sea, for instance, remains mostly unexplored. With all that mystery, it shouldn't be a surprise that sometimes scary and unpleasant questions present themselves, like, "What could have possibly eaten a 9-foot great white shark?"

The story is chronicled in the upcoming Smithsonian documentary, "Hunt for the Super Predator." As part of Australia's first-ever large-scale tagging and tracking program for great whites, cinematographer Dave Riggs and a film crew found the perfect specimen. They named it "Shark Alpha" and successfully planted a tracking device on the 9-foot female. Four months later, however, the tag washed up on the beach and was found by a passer-by

Riggs was puzzled by the data it contained. Alpha had plunged straight down the side of the continental shelf, more than 1,500 feet deep. While the temperature of ocean water drops considerably in deep water, the tag itself actually heated up, from 46 degrees Fahrenheit to 78 degrees. That means the tag had to have been inside the belly of another animal. Alpha had been attacked, and bested, but by what ?


http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/trending-now/great-white-shark-disappearance-ignites-search-for-new-super-predator-185347878.html

[The Matrix Traveller]

We have some rather large squid around NZ ... 

http://scitechdaily.com/colossal-eyes-give-giant-squids-an-advantage-when-fighting-sperm-whales/

The world's biggest squid species have developed over time huge eyes to give them advanced
warning of approaching sperm whales.

Colossal (15m) and giant squid (13m) have eyes that measure 27cm (11?) across, which is much bigger
than any fish on record.

Lead researcher Dan Nilsson from Lund University in Sweden was himself present
at the necroscopy of a colossal squid, four years ago in New Zealand.

He was able to examine the eyes and the hard parts of the lens.

Predation, mostly by sperm whales and their forebears, has driven the evolution in the eyes of these squids.

Various species of Architeuthis and the much bigger colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni), can grow to more than 10m in length, when measured from the tip of their body to the end of their tentacles.

[WhatTheHey]

  Howdy do to all of you.

   Here is a possible culprit! One of the ones mentioned in the video.



This event is apparently not an isolated occurrence.

What an amazing demonstration of intelligence from another mammal living right here on our planet.  Clearly these

very large dolphins have the ability to master complex ideas and concepts without a trainer.

  Perhaps we should seek to establish a common communication method we these intelligent roommates living with

us here on earth. I would place a large bet that we would learn a great deal!



WhatTheHey


fixed youtube link

[astr0144]

Those Giant Squids are quite unbelievable in terms of their size Matrix,

But You may well be correct "What the Hey"....

I do now recall seeing how Orcas have killed sharks before...
and rethinking about it, I think they would be most likely the culprits...

[The Matrix Traveller]

Orcas are very popular in NZ Waters. They often come into our harbours and some swim with them.

They are awesome friendly creatures to us, and as far as I know not a threat to us.
They do love eating seals though, but we have never had one attack humans here.

In fact we had one person saved from a shark attack by Orcas some time ago.


Often Orcas are seen while out at sea, recreation fishing.

These are (see Video clip Below) in Auckland Harbour.   

This next video was taken across the Ditch in Australia....