Video shows the little shark swimming just below the water’s surface when the diver swam up behind it. The shark is a gummy shark, which is native to Australia.
THE TAKEAWAY
- A diver swam with a baby shark.
- The shark is a gummy shark.
- Gummy sharks are native to Australia.
A marine biologist on a dive in Australia swam upon a gummy shark pup, swimming just beneath the water’s surface.
This rare moment was captured on video in mid-August, on a dive in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria.
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The video showed the teeny tiny shark swimming in front of the diver with the sun shining through the water.
The baby shark swimming.
(@shereemarris via Storyful / FOX Weather)
The diver, Sheree Marris, who is also a marine biologist, said it was a gummy shark.
Gummy sharks are native to Australia, and can grow to be 5 feet long. Young gummy sharks can be prey to other larger shark species.
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According to the Australian Fisheries Management Authorities, gummy sharks are not overfished.
The sun was shining right beneath the surface.
(@shereemarris via Storyful / FOX Weather)
“This cutie patootie was really little,” Marris said.
Newborn gummy sharks typically measure around 12 to 14 inches in length, Marris told Storyful News.
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In the video, Marris shows the little shark swimming away, before panning the camera to herself and motioning with her fingers that the shark was small.
The next clip shows Marris swimming right next to the shark before the video ends.
Gummy sharks are on their own after being born, with no parental care, Marris said.
There are about 180 shark species that live in Australian waters, most of which are not a threat to people.
“Nearly all attacks in Australian coastal waters have been attributed to just three species: Great white sharks, tiger sharks and bull sharks,” Victorian Fisheries Authority reported.
