Comments on: Great white shark new arrival at Te Papa

By: moamed

moamed — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 14:06:14 +0000

i like to study for sharks and all kind of sharks plzz give me the wat to do it
im underwater photographer and diving instructor from hurghada – egypt

By: Steve C

Steve C — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 01:40:32 +0000

Just goes to show..

GWs ARE there in Wellington..just like most other places around New Zealand..West or East Coast (Bay of Plenty recently..6m+??).

Although a “protected species” one ALWAYS has to be very aware that this is a predator in it’s own territory. You enter that territory at your own risk. NO shark “expert” can ever tell you otherwise..especially when you’ve been in the water with one.

Like most wild animals/mammals..NEVER underestimate what they may do next. Just look on the web (for the recent attacks in Perth AUZ) to see their capability. A GW is a cunning shark that attacks, many times vertically (from below), and you never see it coming. How many other sharks attack like this? Time to “wake-up” for those who have little “real” experience with these fishes. Do GWs’ read “textbooks” or listen to “lectures”. LOL!! Time to get real.

By: jane keig

jane keig — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 20:48:22 +0000

@Charlotte – we’re still working out what we’re going to be doing with this rare specimen,but will update you via the blog.

By: jane keig

jane keig — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 20:46:56 +0000

@olivia – yes, I did get to touch it, the skin was very much like touching velvet,not what I expected at all! The skin is made up of thousands of dermal denticles (literally “skin teeth”). Each denticle is similar to a tooth in that it has a pulpy cavity and it’s own blood supply and encased in an enamel-like coating. As if the shark didn’t have enough teeth in its mouth!

By: Charlotte

Charlotte — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 06:04:06 +0000

Is this going to be on display in the museum?

By: olivia

olivia — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 06:12:22 +0000

It looks freaky. Did you get to touch it and what did it feel like ?