Wednesday, Dec. 07, 2011
Half Balloon, Half Shark — All Silly
Just what sharks need: a way to get creepier. The same California Academy of Sciences team that found the laughing cicada also discovered the Philippine swell shark. The new species measures about 39 in. long, but don't ask how big it is around the middle, since that can change. When the shark is threatened, it swallows seawater and inflates to twice its normal size. It may also grab its tail and form an O-shape, which seems to discourage other fish from attacking — though no one is sure why. Maybe they're laughing too hard to eat.