World's first hybrid sharks found in Australia

Researchers in marine biology have discovered the world's first hybrid sharks in Australian waters, a media report said .

The researchers have come across 57 animals along a 2000-km stretch from Queensland to New South Wales which they believe are the result of cross-breeding between the common black tip shark and Australian black tip shark.

The inter-breeding between the two species shows the animals are adapting to climate change and the “Hybridisation” can make the fishes stronger to adapt to ecological change.

“Black tip is more abundant in sub-tropical and temperate waters along the south-eastern Australian coastline," Jennifer Ovenden of Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries was quoted in a report.

Another researcher at the University of Queensland researcher, Jess Morgan, said it was unusual for sharks to breed in such a way. She said as sharks physically mate, it makes sure they do not hybridise with the wrong species.

Experts of James Cook University's Fishing and Fisheries Research Centre, said the results of this research show that we still have a lot to learn about these important ocean predators.