On the 14th, satellite images showed that Kavachi, an underwater volcano in the Solomon Islands, was active again. However, the most interesting part, in the eyes of science, is that sharks live in their surroundings. The case became known through footage posted by Natgeo a few years ago, and now it’s getting attention again.
Precisely because of their eccentric population of hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna spp.) and silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis), Kavachi became known as “Sharkcano”. Since its discovery in 1939, the volcano has experienced approximately 36 eruption periods. But how can sharks survive in such an environment?
In an interview with New York Post, researcher Cady Bennis of the Smithsonian’s Global Volcanism Program states that this is not as rare as one might think. Even in the surface state, there are humans inhabiting cities built around volcanoes. He noted that “it is perfectly normal to have sharks and other marine life around underwater volcanoes, as they also contribute to the ecosystem.”
However, scientists are still trying to understand what makes sharks physically suitable for living in such hot and acidic conditions. The theory is that these species have evolved to the point of adapting to survive in this environment, but to understand this behavior further, it will be necessary to analyze it in future research.
source: Canaltech
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