Like slithering snakes in the grass, pyjama sharks weave through the long stipes of the kelp forest searching for their next meal.
Pyjama sharks (Poroderma africanum) became the evil villains of the hit documentary My Octopus Teacher by hunting the octopus that narrator Craig Foster had befriended. With long black and white stripes running down the length of their bodies like a jailhouse uniform and a deathly stare, they became the perfect depiction of "bad". On my Kelptown snorkelling experiences, they have become number two on the wishlist of animals to see, after octopuses of course.
Besides their Hollywood fame, what makes them so special? Pyjama are endemic to Southern African waters, meaning that they are not found anywhere else in the world. They use cat-like whiskers—or in the shark's case, barbels—to help find prey at night or in very murky water. This feature puts them in a family of sharks called catsharks, or Scyliorhinidae. They hunt octopuses, cuttlefish, carcasses, and other hard-shelled morsels, with flat, three-pronged teeth that help them grip even the slipperiest prey.
Pyjama sharks are also oviparous, meaning they lay eggs. These eggs are long and flat, made from proteins called collagen and keratin, making them hard and durable. On each corner of the egg are long, twirling tendrils that the female uses to attach the egg to pieces of seaweed or sea fans, where the baby shark can develop safely before hatching.
Despite their villain portrayal, pyjama sharks are far from the top of the food chain and are often eaten by seals or larger sharks such as sevengill cow sharks. When threatened, they curl themselves into a tight ball and cover their eyes with their tails, a behaviour that has given their close relatives the nickname "shysharks".
Photographically, pyjama sharks have become some of my favourite subjects. They are often found in shallow water where sunlight catches the beautiful texture of their skin. Because they rely so heavily on their barbels, they seem largely unbothered by the presence of snorkellers, occasionally even bumping into our lenses, making for incredible footage. Their bold stripes also create natural leading lines, helping transform what can be a chaotic kelp scene into a beautifully composed image.
