Posted by on August 12, 2004 at 11:37:52:
In Reply to: Re: SHARKS ARE SURFERS, TOO posted by Bat Ray on August 12, 2004 at 11:27:58:
Is it a person? Is it a dolphin? Naw, it's surfer shark! This thresher shark seemingly bodysurfing off Padaro Lane last Saturday "is the damndest thing I ever saw," says UCSB marine biologist Milton Love. He confirmed the shark is a thresher, though the species' distinctive long and tall tail fin is not visible here. The photographer, 16-year-old shark fan Ashley Healy of Glendora, says the big fish was scooped up in the shallows by a breaking wave and quickly scuttled back to the deep as if it were shocked by its unsharkly shenanigans. Ashley and her dad estimated the shark was about 7 feet long. It's not likely, but if you ever find a thresher "taking off" on a wave nearby, don't panic. Mr. Love says humans are not on its menu. The thresher has "tiny teeth" and feeds on only small fish and squid. ASHLEY HEALY PHOTO