Nova Scotian Man speaks of great white shark of up to 25-feet in Bay of Fundy
Canada's The Chronicle Herald reported that a "scary big" great white shark was spotted by a boat of whale watchers on August 17, 2011 in the Bay of Fundy off of Brier Island, Nova Scotia. According to the report, Fulton Lavender, a Nova Scotia Bird Society naturalist claims the shark was over 25 in his personal opinion.
Initially, Fulton thought the shark to be a basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus), which can usually grow to lengths of over 25. But, after seeing photographs of the shark taken by a tourist aboard the whale-watching boat, Fulton stated that it was "definitely a great white shark." Others aboard the ship announced that the shark had a white belly. While basking sharks don't characteristically have a white belly, white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) do. Fulton also added the photographs taken showed facial patterns and a dorsal fin indicative of a white shark.
The visitor who took the pictures of the animal guaranteed to provide Brier Island officials with a copy of a picture of the animal but has still to do so.
Adult white sharks are usually in the range of 13-17 in length, but reports of specimens reaching 20, though slightly rare, are not unheard of. A white shark exceeding 25 in length would be extremely outside of the ordinary size range of the species.
Reid Gillis, a captain for one of the whale watching boats asserts he saw the animal break 3 times, but he couldn't identify the species as a white shark. The shark was also blamed by a number of the whale watchers for attacking a humpback whale who was seen with "crescent-shaped" wounds. Gillis who saw the injuries on the whale noted that he did not see the shark attack the humpback and couldn't decide whether the injuries were the result of bite marks.
Canadian shark analyst, Steven Campana, announced it'd be highly unusual for a white shark to attack a healthy adult whale.
Initially, Fulton thought the shark to be a basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus), which can usually grow to lengths of over 25. But, after seeing photographs of the shark taken by a tourist aboard the whale-watching boat, Fulton stated that it was "definitely a great white shark." Others aboard the ship announced that the shark had a white belly. While basking sharks don't characteristically have a white belly, white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) do. Fulton also added the photographs taken showed facial patterns and a dorsal fin indicative of a white shark.
The visitor who took the pictures of the animal guaranteed to provide Brier Island officials with a copy of a picture of the animal but has still to do so.
Adult white sharks are usually in the range of 13-17 in length, but reports of specimens reaching 20, though slightly rare, are not unheard of. A white shark exceeding 25 in length would be extremely outside of the ordinary size range of the species.
Reid Gillis, a captain for one of the whale watching boats asserts he saw the animal break 3 times, but he couldn't identify the species as a white shark. The shark was also blamed by a number of the whale watchers for attacking a humpback whale who was seen with "crescent-shaped" wounds. Gillis who saw the injuries on the whale noted that he did not see the shark attack the humpback and couldn't decide whether the injuries were the result of bite marks.
Canadian shark analyst, Steven Campana, announced it'd be highly unusual for a white shark to attack a healthy adult whale.
About the Author:
Earlier this month a little white shark was captured coincidentally in a fisherman's weir in the Bay of Fundy tides, putting an end to supposition the species are currently present in the Fundy area.