Virginia is scared by a shark during a trip to Jamaica: 'Everyone started screaming' A scene recorded during a boat trip in Jamaica caught attention on social media when it showed a shark chasing a stingray in shallow waters. The video, shared by influencer Virginia Fonseca, raised doubts about the behavior of these animals and led many people to ask: after all, do sharks really eat stingrays? ? Also follow Terra da Gente on Instagram The answer is yes. According to the collaborating researcher of the Postgraduate Program in Systematics, Use and Conservation of Biodiversity at the Federal University of Ceará (PPGSis-UFC), Patricia Charvet, several species of sharks include stingrays in their diet. For her, what made the recording special wasn't the hunt itself, but the fact that someone managed to record it. "What was evident in the footage is a feeding event that occurs every day in our oceans. The difference is that, this time, someone managed to record this interaction", he explains. Patricia highlights that, as these are images, species identification cannot be considered definitive. Even so, the characteristics observed indicate that the predator is one of the species of hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran) and that the prey is possibly a cheetah ray (Aetobatus narinari). Virginia catches shark hunting stingray during outing; expert explains rare scene Social Networks See more news from Terra da Gente, on g1: PROHIBITED DELICIA: Study identifies 1,500 sea cucumbers in illegal cargo seized at SP airport MYSTERY: Animal known from only 9 specimens may have disappeared even before being studied FLAGMENT: Yarara with a rare mutation is recorded during fauna monitoring in RJ Specialized predators Sharks have very varied diets. Some species filter plankton, while others hunt fish, marine mammals and even other species of sharks and rays. According to the researcher, there are species that are practically specialized in this type of prey. "There are species that feed mainly on rays. Depending on the species we are considering, this is a common behavior." Even when they have stingers, rays are not free from predation. Patricia explains that some do not even have this defense mechanism. Others have stingers, but they do not guarantee complete protection against experienced predators. "The stinger helps with defense, but does not guarantee that it is 100% efficient. Depending on the angle of the attack, the shark can still capture the prey." She also points out that some predators have adaptations, such as thicker skin in the mouth region, which help reduce damage caused by their prey's defense mechanisms. Giant Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna mokarran) allan_john-paul / iNaturalist Ocean balance Although the scene may be impressive, it represents a natural interaction between predator and prey and is part of the functioning of marine ecosystems. According to Patricia, sharks play an important role in maintaining the balance of the oceans by controlling populations of different species. "This type of predation certainly plays a role in maintaining ecological balance. All ecosystems have their balance, and these interactions are part of this functioning." The researcher explains that the reduction of large predators can cause cascading imbalances, favoring the exaggerated growth of other populations and altering the entire food chain. The spotted ray is also popularly known as narinari, parrot, leopard ray, spotted ray, and cheetah ray. Virgílio Kbça To facilitate understanding, she makes a comparison with terrestrial environments. "It's like watching a lion hunt a zebra on the African savannah. It's a natural event, expected in a healthy ecosystem." Does the video pose a risk to people? Although the recording aroused concern among internet users, Patricia states that the behavior observed does not indicate a greater risk for bathers. According to her, during a hunt, the shark remains focused on capturing its prey. "He was really focused on that stingray. He was unlikely to deviate from that hunt." The researcher emphasizes that humans are not part of the sharks' diet and remembers that most species tend to avoid contact with people. "Humans are not part of the diet of any shark species. What exists are occasional encounters, normally associated with very specific situations." She highlights, however, that any wild animal deserves respect and distance. In situations where there is a large concentration of prey — such as migrations of schools or carcasses of large marine animals — the recommendation is to leave the water, as these places attract several predators. Outside of these scenarios, the expert says that records like the one from Jamaica help more to understand the behavior of sharks than to fuel fears. "The public needs to understand that a natural hunting event between predator and prey was filmed. This does not show an 'evil' shark. It just shows nature working as it always has." VIDEOS: Highlights Terra da Gente See more content about nature on Terra da Gente