Blacktip Sharks Detect Sounds 243 Feet Away

A Florida Atlantic University study found that wild blacktip sharks can detect low-frequency sounds from as far as 74 meters (about 243 feet) away and often turn away from the source. Using an underwater speaker and drone to observe sharks off Southeast Florida, researchers tested several low-frequency ranges and a control sound outside the sharks’ known hearing range. The findings provide quantified evidence that free-swimming sharks can detect and orient away from distant sounds, suggesting hearing helps them gather information about their surroundings; how they sense and interpret those sounds remains an open question.