Skip to content

Southern Fried Science

Over 15 years of ocean science and conservation online

  • Home
  • About SFS
  • Authors
  • Support SFS

Tag: sardine run

Dusky Sharks: Whale Killers

Posted on May 17, 2015 By Chuck Bangley 3 Comments on Dusky Sharks: Whale Killers
Uncategorized

It’s generally thought that baleen whales are too large to be successfully attacked by most marine predators.  Orcas are typically considered the only real predatory threat to large whales, and even they have to use teamwork to take down a young whale.  Large sharks, which also sit near the top of the marine food web, are known to scavenge on whale carcasses as a nutritious and blubbery supplement to their usual diet of fishes and smaller marine mammals.  However, evidence has been found that white sharks actually take a proactive approach to increasing the whale carcass supply by attacking live northern right whale calves.  Now researchers in South Africa directly observed dusky sharks actively teaming up to bring down a humpback whale calf.

Read More “Dusky Sharks: Whale Killers” »

Popular Posts

What Ocean Ramsey does is not shark science or conservation: some brief thoughts on "the Shark Whisperer" documentaryWhat Ocean Ramsey does is not shark science or conservation: some brief thoughts on "the Shark Whisperer" documentaryJuly 2, 2025David Shiffman
Please Help This Little Dumbo Octopus Travel Across AmericaPlease Help This Little Dumbo Octopus Travel Across AmericaAugust 3, 2026Angelo Villagomez
What is a Sand Shark?What is a Sand Shark?November 12, 2017Chuck Bangley
Shark of Darkness: Wrath of Submarine is a fake documentaryShark of Darkness: Wrath of Submarine is a fake documentaryAugust 10, 2014Michelle Jewell
Marine Biology Career AdviceMarine Biology Career AdviceMay 30, 2025David Shiffman
My Journey Into Researching Historical Erasure on Public LandsMy Journey Into Researching Historical Erasure on Public LandsJuly 31, 2026Angelo Villagomez
That's not a blobfish: Deep Sea Social Media is Flooded by AI SlopThat's not a blobfish: Deep Sea Social Media is Flooded by AI SlopDecember 19, 2025Andrew Thaler
When universities puts $$$ before science and ethicsWhen universities puts $$$ before science and ethicsAugust 3, 2026Ali Gaster
I turned my woodshop into a personal solar farm.I turned my woodshop into a personal solar farm.June 21, 2021Andrew Thaler
Zombie ideas in conservation: trophy hunting and conservationZombie ideas in conservation: trophy hunting and conservationAugust 6, 2026Ali Gaster
Subscribe to our RSS Feed for updates whenever new articles are published.

We recommend Feedly for RSS management. It's like Google Reader, except it still exists.

Southern Fried Science

  • Home
  • About SFS
  • Authors
  • Support SFS


If you enjoy Southern Fried Science, consider contributing to our Patreon campaign.

Copyright © 2026 Southern Fried Science.

Theme: Oceanly Premium by ScriptsTown