A mako shark caught by the Shark Week crew during the filming of Black Makos of the Deep. (Image courtesy of Discovery Channel)
In 2019, shark hunter Keith Poe caught an incredibly large shortfin mako shark off the coast of California. It was larger and darker than the shortfin mako (Isurus paucus), which is typically dark blue or gray with a white belly.
The discovery has inspired a new Shark Week show, Black Mako of the Deep, in which the crew goes on a hunt for more black mako specimens, trying to figure out exactly what Poe caught six years ago. Theories about the creature's unusual appearance and size include genetic mutations and possible hybridization of the shortfin mako with other species.
In this episode, Poe teams up with ecologist Kendil Berna, marine biologist Tristan Guttridge, and shark attack survivor Paul de Gelder. They travel 40 miles off the coast of California to lure the marine predators, hoping to attract black makos. Their ultimate goal is to collect tissue samples for genetic analysis and figure out what these mysterious creatures really are.
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Sourse: www.livescience.com
