The grey bamboo shark lives in the Indo-West Pacific Ocean. Dr. Vera Schluessel in Bonn Germany has been researching its intelligence and has made some very interesting discoveries.

The shark, Chiloscyllium griseum, grows to a length of approximately 2 feet. A carpet shark often has a pattern reminiscent of an ornate carpet and feeds along the bottom of the seabed. Dr. Schluessel’s PhD student tested young sharks to gauge how long they could remember skills taught in cognition experiments.

The first experiments worked with shapes. The sharks’ tank had images projected onto one of the walls. They were trained to identify the triangle by touching it with their nose, this resulted in a piece of food (reward) being provided. Half of the sharks were taught to identify a triangle, and half a square.

The next test used circles with points cut out to imply the shape of a triangle or square (similar to Pacman). The shape was not outlined fully, but could be perceived by the placement of the circles. The sharks were not fooled. They viewed the optical illusions and identified the shapes they had been trained to recognize. Not all animal species are able to view optical illusions. Cats, monkeys, owls, chicken, and goldfish are also similarly capable.

This ability to “fill in” the blanks to perceive the implied shapes likely improves their skills for escaping predators.

The next experiments included identifying empty shapes on a diagonally lined background and differentiating them from other figures. This was accomplished easily and quickly by the sharks.

This moved them on to the most difficult task. It was designed to have sharks identify the longest line in a series. They then progressed to the optical illusion portion of the test. You may have seen this graphic:

CC by 3.0 by Fibonacci

The sharks had no trouble picking out the fact that the lines were the same length.

Nearly a year later, almost all of the sharks still remembered how to perform all of the skills they had been taught. Obviously, all sharks have different traits and different memory spans. Nothing was studied beyond a year as far as memory because the research turned towards the sharks’ brains and the area that controls memory. This is currently unknown. Researchers have yet to determine what area in the brain processes memories or stores the information.

Based on this new information, it is possible that other shark species have similar capabilities. Until further studies are conducted, we won’t know if all sharks have one year or more memories or if it is particular to a specific species.

It would be compelling information and possibly lifesaving in the long run. If we understand shark memory, we might be able to apply the information to understanding whether there the use of patterns would be helpful in deterring sharks from beach areas or other dangerous waters.

Hopefully, more scientists are studying how the shark brain works and will help us understand some of the sharks’ behaviors. 

There is no doubt that being attacked by a shark is incredibly frightening and often deadly. The fear turns into anger as the public demands that something “be done” and officials somehow decide that going on a shark killing spree is the answer. It will get rid of a bunch of sharks and people will feel avenged, right? Well, maybe that’s true, but it doesn’t really do anyone… or any sharks… any good at all.

A marine biologist, Carl Meyer, in Hawaii has been debunking shark myths for many years. He works at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology Shark Research Group and as an expert, he says that all of that killing is unnecessary. Meyer says that there is no evidence that sharks return to hunt at a beach after they’ve attacked there once.

Meyer has used tracking equipment and cameras to record the shark activity around the islands of Hawaii. Data reveals that there have only been around three shark attacks per year over the last 25 years. There has been an increase over the last two years, it is too soon to call it an upward trend. Remember that sharks are disturbed by a number of changes in their environments that disrupt their normal routes or where they normally give birth. If there is construction or other disturbances in an area, sharks may be driven to a new area and it could be closer to the coastline.

Another myth: that sharks are attracted to the cages used by tourist attractions to view sharks safely underwater and follow them to shore. Meyer says that that simply is not true. His observations show that the sharks go from the surface, where the cages are, back to the bottom of the site when the cage is removed. He also notes that the most frequent attacks are by tiger sharks, a breed rarely seen near the cages.

A tourist boat captain says that open ocean shark attacks are frequently unintentional. The shark has mistaken the person for some type of its usual prey. If humans were something they enjoyed eating, attacks would be much higher and more regular. It is worth noting that most people actually survive shark attacks. If we were truly the target for food, nobody would survive.

It isn’t wrong to be fearful of sharks or to be careful when swimming, surfing, or engaging in other ocean activities. Simply remember that you are on the shark’s turf without an invitation. Steer clear of areas that have known shark activity. Have respect for these powerful animals.

But as Hawaiian officials consider the question of their ongoing practice of slaughtering sharks in an area that has had an attack, they should carefully study Meyer’s data. There is no reason to kill as many sharks as they can find. It does no good for humans or for sharks. Hopefully, they will see the error in this practice.

Is there a shark lover on your gift list? Are you a little lost trying to find things that are shark related? Are you wishing for another sequel to JAWS just so you can find some t-shirts? No worries. Help is here. With some assistance from the Internet, some really unique shark gifts are available online for your little…and big sharkies.

For those shark lovers whose tastes in toys have progressed to electronics, there are some awesome shark cell phone cases on Zazzle. Whether you choose the white case with tons of tiny sharks or the more ominous black case with the silhouette of one great white, you can’t go wrong.

Also on Zazzle, there is a variety of coffee mugs with shark logos that vary from understated to detailed diagrams of shark anatomy. And for dad, there’s a few sharp shark neckties for work. If you want to keep the holidays at the forefront, make sure you wrap these gifts in the “Shark Wearing Santa Hat” wrapping paper.

A variety of t-shirts and baseball caps with sharks in either cute or threatening poses are offered. There are even watches with great whites on the faces! And don’t think that female shark lovers are left out. There are leggings and t-shirts for women.

Believe it or not (I didn’t until I saw them), there are shark guitar picks, drumsticks, and portable speakers. There are more items than I can describe. You just have to visit Zazzle to see them.

In the even that somehow you don’t find what you are seeking in the 196,687 shark products on that site, you can try Cafepress. They only have 19,700 items, but among those are shark earrings, sheet sets, golf balls, kitchen accessories, and business cards. Yes, business cards.

I’ve forgotten to mention the baby clothes with shark themes, underwear for him and her, shower curtains, yoga mats, and shark t-shirts for your pets. I’m stunned by the Cafepress offerings.

You can always go to the old standby, Amazon, for toys, shark dashboard hula dancers, shark salt and pepper shakers, or shark fin ice trays. This is probably best if you have more patience or are seeking something specific, because the presentation of shark items is coupled with other products. I prefer to find things that are more unique.

For example, Etsy has some shark gifts and many can be personalized. The shark baby bottle holders are hilarious. Because many items on Etsy are handmade, you may find some that are a little on the odd side, but there are some awesome wall hangings, barrettes, etched glasses, and even a shark baby blanket.

Don’t fret that you are limited to another plastic shark from the discount bin! There are more creative and fun gifts than I can describe. And instead of the tried and true, venture off into some of the unique Internet stores. All of these are reputable and have huge selections for all ages. Boys, girls, men, women, shark lovers of all ages will love the gifts you found here.