Shark science in 2025 delivered major breakthroughs and exciting discoveries. New research reshaped our understanding of shark behavior, evolution, migration, cognition, and how ocean ecosystems change when apex predators disappear. From newly discovered species to advanced genetic analyses and surprising behavior, check out these 14 Groundbreaking 2025 Shark Discoveries each of which contributed to making 2025 one of the most exciting years ever for shark research.
Curated by Dr. Neil Hammerschlag, below are 14 of some of the most fascinating shark discoveries of the year— each linked to the primary scientific publication where available.
Sharks were observed repeatedly manipulating objects with no food reward, meeting scientific criteria for genuine play. This finding adds to growing evidence that sharks possess complex cognitive abilities. Check out this video and judge for yourself if you think the sharks are playing with the pool toys.
A 2025 experimental study found that acidic ocean conditions can weaken and erode shark teeth, causing cracks, corrosion, and loss of sharpness. While sharks constantly replace their teeth, increasing acidity may still impair hunting efficiency, with potential ripple effects across marine food webs.
Scientists described Clavusodens mcginnisi, a 340-million-year-old shark species estimated to be just 3–4 inches long — about the size of a paperclip. Informally nicknamed “chipmunk sharks” for their chisel-like and crushing teeth, the species adds to evidence of surprising early shark diversity.
A newly developed environmental DNA (eDNA) test offers a vital breakthrough for monitoring small-bodied hammerhead sharks, such as the critically endangered Scalloped Bonnethead and Scoophead. These elusive species inhabit turbid coastal waters where traditional visual surveys are often ineffective. By analyzing genetic traces from a simple water sample, this non-invasive tool allows researchers to pinpoint species presence and identify essential conservation hotspots without the stress of capture. Validated in Colombia, this scalable method provides the data needed to protect these overlooked sharks from local extinction.
Genome sequencing uncovered a major mismatch between mitochondrial and nuclear DNA in great white sharks, suggesting ancient hybridization or strong sex-biased dispersal. Researchers also found that great whites were limited to a single Indo-Pacific population shortly after the last ice age, before expanding globally.
Looking to witness these evolutionary marvels up close and in person? Book our Great White Yarmouth Expedition and cage dive with Great White Sharks in Nova Scotia waters.
The rare sailback houndshark (Gogolia filewoodi), known for its unusually tall dorsal fin, was last seen in 1973. New records from Papua New Guinea in 2020 and 2022 confirm the species still exists, offering a valuable opportunity to study this unique evolutionary lineage.
Shortfin mako sharks exhibit warming rates more than ten times faster than their cooling rates. By attaching data loggers to these predators, researchers discovered they slowly lose heat during deep foraging dives but rapidly recover it in warm surface waters. This advanced thermoregulation is comparable to that of bigeye tuna and swordfish and appears to be a key evolutionary advantage. It allows makos to hunt effectively in cold depths for extended periods before quickly restoring their optimal body temperature near the surface.
A newly described lanternshark, Etmopterus westraliensis, joins the ranks of bioluminescent deep-sea sharks. Specialized organs called photophores allow it to produce light along its flanks and abdomen — a critical adaptation for survival in the deep ocean.
Researchers documented the first wild observation of group courtship and copulation in Indo-Pacific leopard sharks. The 90-minute event involved two males and one female engaging in a structured sequence of behaviors, previously known only from captive environments.
Scientists identified and tracked the movements of a natural hybrid between a scalloped hammerhead and a Carolina hammerhead for the first time. The hybrid displayed unique movement and diving patterns distinct from either parent species, suggesting potential ecological differences.
New reconstructions reveal that Otodus megalodon may have reached up to 80 feet (24 meters) and was far more streamlined than previously imagined — more like a giant lemon shark than a bulky great white. This hydrodynamic shape would have maximized speed, hunting efficiency, and long-distance travel.
New anatomical research shows that blue sharks have microscopic guanine crystals embedded in their skin. These layered crystal structures act like tiny mirrors and light filters, producing the shark’s vibrant blue color. What’s more, changes in the spacing of these crystals — possibly triggered by environmental factors like water pressure — could enable the sharks to shift their color from blue to green or gold, offering dynamic camouflage advantages.
Did you know that blue sharks are native to Nova Scotia? These fascinating creatures are the most frequent visitors on our Halifax Cage Diving Expedition and Early Halifax Cage Diving Expedition where you can cage dive with a variety of shark species off the coast of Halifax, Nova Scotia.
For the first time, scientists have recorded sounds produced by a shark — high-frequency clicks likely created by forceful snapping of the teeth. These sounds were consistently detected when rig sharks (Mustelus lenticulatus), small bottom-dwelling sharks from New Zealand, were handled by researchers underwater. Because sharks lack swim bladders and other known sound-producing organs, the clicks are believed to be a stress or startle response triggered by restraint. This discovery opens new avenues for studying shark behavior, communication, and sensory ecology.
New research has revealed that great white sharks have largely vanished from False Bay, likely due to decades of shark-net mortality and some predation by orcas. Their loss has caused increases in Cape fur seals and sevengill sharks as well as changes in their behaviors, with consequential declines in the species those predators feed on — providing rare real-world evidence of a cascading food-web shift following the loss of an apex predator.
2025 proved to be a landmark year for shark research, revealing new species, new behaviors, and new insights into how sharks shape marine ecosystems. With advancing technologies — from eDNA to satellite telemetry — future discoveries are poised to be even more transformative.
You can always check out our blog for more interesting content about sharks, shark science, and conservation, and even learn about our cage diving expeditions.
This Shark Week, take your fascination even deeper. While millions tune in to Discovery Channel for thrilling footage of the ocean’s top predators, we’re celebrating
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