To Err Is Human; To Mistakenly Bite Is Baby White Shark

Researchers simulated a shark’s visual system to test the “mistaken identity theory” of unprovoked shark bites.

Baby white sharks learn to hunt on the fly. Though months-old pups feast on fish and other small fry, older juveniles are finally big enough to tackle seals and other meatier meals.

It might seem easy to spot a blubbery seal in the waves. But young white sharks have less than stellar eyesight and are also likely colorblind, rendering the ocean in shades of gray. So you can hardly blame a young white shark for seeing an appetizingly shadowy oval above and chomping.

For decades, scientists have floated this theory of “mistaken identity” as an explanation behind unprovoked shark bites on humans, which are rare. A paper published Wednesday in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface puts this theory to the test. Based on their simulations of how a juvenile white shark sees the world, they found no meaningful difference between a plump sea lion, a person paddling on a surfboard or even a person paddling on their own — supporting the theory that sometimes, sharks make mistakes.