Join Callum Evans on his journey to find lesser known shark species in the kelp forests. (Oceangraphic)
Sevengill Shark Pyjama CatShark
Aside from their smaller size, many of these species do not have the characteristic dorsal fin that has become such an iconic and feared feature of sharks. Many of these same species can also have quite striking patterns on their bodies, which help them to blend into their environment. In total, nine species of sharks can be seen in the kelp forests, namely puffadder shyshark, dark shyshark, pyjama catshark, leopard catshark, tiger catshark, spotted gully shark, smoothhound shark, St. Joseph’s shark, and the seven-gilled cowshark.
Of all these sharks, the pyjama shark is undoubtedly my favourite shark to encounter while diving. There is something truly special about swimming alongside one of these striking sharks as they patrol the kelp forests in search of prey. Their black and grey striped markings that run the length of their bodies easily distinguish them from the other shark species. However, they can still be quite tricky to find, as they often prefer to spend the daylight hours sleeping in caves or in large cracks in the rocks. Peering into these shelters, one can sometimes find six or seven sharks piled on top of each other, conserving their energy in what sometimes looks like incredibly uncomfortable sleeping positions.
They also use these shelters to hide from predators, including Cape fur seals and cowsharks. While resting, they still pump water over their gills by opening and closing their mouths. They often hunt at night, preying on octopus, rock lobsters, crabs, molluscs and fish, but also regularly move around during the day. The largest individuals can be just over a metre long, so it can be quite a surprise to come face-to-face with one that size when diving down into the kelp! Their close relatives, the leopard catsharks, are significantly smaller and much harder to find, so it is always incredibly special to spot one of these sharks hiding in a crack or swimming around. They are just as striking as the pyjama’s, covered in dark rosettes and spots that give this species its name.
The smaller species of sharks, the puffadder and dark shysharks, can pose an even greater challenge to find than the pyjama sharks because the markings on these two species allow them to blend in superbly to their surroundings. They have an impressive (and sometimes annoying ability) to disappear like ghosts into the kelp forests as soon as you have spotted them. However, every now and then, they stop swimming and take a break on the sandy clearings on the forest floor, allowing the chance to lie next to them and photograph them in detail. The puffadder shyshark has probably the most complex markings of all the local sharks, which orange and brown saddle-like blotches on their backs and hundreds of lightly coloured spots and dark scribbles. The orange markings give this shark its name, as they bear a striking similarity to the markings of the puffadder snake. The slightly bigger dark shyshark usually has varying shades of brown colouration over its body. Both species are able to weave their way through thick stands of kelp and tight cracks in rocks in search of small prey.
Another larger shark can often be much harder to find than the other species. It used to have an almost mythical status for me when I started diving, as I could never find them. They can vanish in amongst the kelp with ease despite its size. Then, over six months after I started freediving, I found my first spotted gully sharks. Perhaps some of my most memorable diving moments have been encountering large aggregations of these beautiful animals, which often occur during the breeding season. Unlike the catsharks and shysharks, spotted gully sharks have a large dorsal fin, giving them the stereotypical ‘shark-shape’.
They can reach lengths of up to two metres long, making them some of the largest inhabitants of the kelp forest. They cruise just above the sea floor, slowly searching for octopus, small fish and lobsters, but they are incredibly agile and fast swimmers, able to put on an impressive turn of speed (vital for hunting as well as escaping danger). They can appear intimidating, but they are harmless to people. I have had them swim barely a couple of centimetres from me and the sharks barely gave me a second glance. In fact, they will shoot away into the kelp if they feel even the tiniest bit threatened by us.
These sharks are far from the only species that are found in the oceans around Cape Town.
I have even seen changes in False Bay, including the disappearance of great whites from the area. However, I have also seen a shift in many people’s perceptions of sharks. More and more people I meet want to see sharks in the wild and they cannot imagine an ocean without them….
There is still so much that we don’t know about sharks, but we do know that they are critically important to the health of our oceans and in turn, the health of our planet.
