Are Warm-Blooded Sharks Vulnerable to Global Heating?

Researchers have made an alarming discovery about the potential effects of global heating on warm-blooded sharks. As more species of warm-blooded sharks are being discovered, scientists fear that these predators may face the same fate as the extinct megalodon.

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Warm-Blooded Sharks: A Surprising Find

Scientists initially believed that warm-bloodedness was limited to a small percentage of shark species, primarily apex predators like the great white and the megalodon. However, recent research has challenged this notion. In July, the same team published a study demonstrating that plankton-eating basking sharks also possess features of regional endothermy.

In a new study led by researchers at Trinity College Dublin, an intriguing case of warm-bloodedness has been uncovered in the smalltooth sand tiger shark. This species of shark, known as an ambush predator that resides near the sea floor, exhibits anatomical markers indicative of warm-bloodedness.

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A smalltooth sand tiger shark. Image: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research/Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED)

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The research team, consisting of scientists from various universities and institutes, including Pretoria, Zurich, Swansea, the Smithsonian Institute, and University College Dublin, had the opportunity to study a female smalltooth sand tiger shark that washed up on the east coast of Ireland earlier this year. They also examined other sharks that washed up in the UK.

In general, warm muscles are thought to enhance the strength and athleticism of fish and sharks. This could help explain the success of apex predators like the great white. It is worth noting, however, that regional endothermy, the characteristic of warm-bloodedness seen in these sharks, is associated with a higher risk of extinction.

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The Extinction of the Megalodon

The megalodon, also known as the "Carcharocles megalodon," was the largest shark to have ever existed. With a weight of about 50 tons and a length of up to 60 feet (three times that of a modern great white shark), this warm-blooded giant went extinct approximately 3.6 million years ago. Its warm-blooded nature may have played a role in its eventual demise.

Nick Payne, a researcher, shared on Twitter that the energy costs associated with warm-bloodedness could have contributed to the megalodon's extinction.

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These findings highlight the potential risks faced by modern warm-blooded sharks in a time of global heating. The escalating climate crisis is causing significant impacts on the planet's oceans, including record-breaking marine heatwaves affecting nearly 30% of the oceans in 2023. The resulting heating leads to increased acidification, the destruction of corals and microorganisms, and the creation of inhospitable environments, which in turn has cascading adverse effects on the entire ecosystem.

According to the researchers, the smalltooth sand tiger shark recently found in Irish waters suggests a shift in its range, possibly due to warming waters. This discovery raises concerns about the future of these warm-blooded sharks.