Sharks can hear nearly 250 feet away and pinpoint the source
A study by Florida Atlantic University researchers has confirmed that blacktip sharks can detect and orient away from sounds from nearly 250 feet away. This provides the first quantified evidence of shark behavior in the acoustic far field.
Why it matters
Understanding shark sensory capabilities helps scientists better comprehend marine ecosystem dynamics and predator-prey interactions.
The ocean is filled with sound, and for sharks, those sounds can reveal what is happening well beyond their field of view. Noise produced by prey, predators, and other animals may provide important information about the surrounding environment. Yet scientists have had little direct evidence showing just how far a shark swimming freely in the ocean can hear, or whether it can tell where a distant sound originated.
A new study from Florida Atlantic University is beginning to answer those questions. Researchers studying blacktip sharks ( Carcharhinus limbatus ) used an underwater speaker, a drone, and wild sharks swimming naturally in coastal waters. They found that the animals could detect sounds from substantial distances and abruptly turn away from the source, even when it was nearly 250 feet away.
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