Source: Nature: "The Secret World of Sharks and Rays"
Major corporate support for the Nature collection was provided by Canon U.S.A. and SC Johnson. Additional support was provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the nation’s public television stations.
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The undiscerning palate, wide jaws and powerful teeth of a tiger shark make it a constant threat to sea turtles. However, the large head and strong, muscular jaws of the loggerhead sea turtle help it fend off fierce predators. In this video segment from Nature, a loggerhead sea turtle refuses to fall prey to the tiger shark and attacks its voracious enemy.
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Sharks and their biological cousins, the rays, are among the highest-profile denizens of the deep. But sharks are not the solitary killing machines that popular movies and the press might have us believe. In their marine environment, sharks coexist with numerous other species - many of whom flock to be near the sharks, rather than running from them in fear. In many of these cases, the interaction between two different species mutually benefits each species. But humans, too, have become an increasingly important player in the lives of sharks - and as they are increasingly hunted for their fins, sharks are actually becoming more endangered than they are dangerous. The impact on the marine ecosystem that would result from the disappearance of sharks would be devastating, but there is still time to save these magnificent creatures, and the ecosystems that depend on their existence.
A coral reef in the Bahamas. The ominous shadow of a fierce predator. A Tiger Shark. Known for attacking humans and one of the most dangerous sharks around, it's one of the few that will take on a heavily armored Sea Turtle.
With its strong jaws and serrated teeth, a Tiger Shark can saw apart the Loggerhead's shell.
The Turtle senses a stalker and picks up speed.
The gap narrows. Before the turtle gets too tired, it comes up with anew strategy.
In a surprising move, the Loggerhead is the attacker. Those heavy jaws were designed for crushing and the turtle snaps at the shark's vulnerable gills.
But the shark is persistent.
The Loggerhead swims toward the safety of the shore -clearly a veteran of shark attacks.
Despite what we think, sharks are not always successful hunters. Their prey are savvy, too.
This shark is young and inexperienced. But it may return, older, wiser, and more dangerous.
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