Sonograms are just adorable, right? Scientists have upped the cuteness (or maybe creepiness) by capturing the first-ever shark sonogram.
Researchers Neil Hammerschlag of the University of Miami and James Sulikowski of the University of New England teamed up to perform an ultrasound on “Emily,” a 12-foot tiger shark who was pregnant with 20 tiny, squirmy, toothy baby sharks. Tiger sharks are known for their sharp, serrated teeth, which they’ll use to eat just about anything. The babies in the sonogram video have their own fully-formed, very impressive sets of those chompers.
The study, conducted in the Bahamas at Tiger Beach, was published in the journal Aquatic Biology, and footage of the sonogram premiered during Discovery Channel’s popular “Shark Week.”
“I’ve never seen this before,” Sulikowski says in the video. “She was just jam-packed. They are so well-developed. This is amazing. They’re about, I guess, 40 or 45 centimeters in total length. I can’t believe how far along they are.”
The aquatic gynecologists are changing the way we think about shark motherhood. Prior to this study, sharks had to be killed and cut open in order for researchers to learn about their pregnancies. Now, the scientists are tracking where sharks go to give birth. If they can locate shark “nursery fields,” the areas could be preserved to protect the shark population.
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