I was watching Discovery and there was this special on Makos' intelligence. This one shark expert (forget the name but I remember him from various Great White documentaries in New Zealand) and his partners were testing a Mako's intelligence by throwing a fiberglass square and if the Mako hit it it would be "rewarded" with a fiberglass fish. Upon hitting the fiberglass fish the scientists would take out everything and this time throw in a fiberglass circle, now the catch was should the Makos hit the circle they would be rewarded with real food. The scientists only needed to the throw the square in 2 or 3 more times before realizing that the Makos had already been able to differiante what does what.
I thought this was a brilliant experiment but then the scientists wanted to do another MUCH more dangerous experiment. They wanted to test whether or not the young female Mako(the most docile) was seeing the boat as non-threatening or the humans that fed her. The scientists noticed that while leaping out of the water she did not roll up her "eye guards"(sorry don't know the actual name), and she didn't react when out of the water and the scientists handled her. So the two leading scientists(aforementioned shark expert and some fat, bushy haired expert) dove in armed only with a dead fish and a lonely camera. No chain mail or cage. The female instanteously recognized the humans and(scared you with instanteously didnt I??) went for the bait...she did not care when they petted her while she bit into the bait and then when they HELD ON to her she still saw them as non threatnening. This was the first ever live feeding of a mako face to face with no barriers.

Anyway I found this truly a brilliant experiment and fascinating as well. What this topic is about is whether or not other Lamniformes share this intelligence?? No ones been able to experiment with this before though so is it possible that other Laminoids like the Whale Shark, Basking Shark, and Goblin or Sand Tiger Shark share this amazing intelligence?? I know it's a long shot and far too dangerous to even think about experimenting with due to their insane aggression but is it possible for Great Whites to possess this intelligence as well?? They are closely related to Makos.... And I've noticed how brilliant they are in their hunting patterns and have noticed that adolescents tend to be led by one alpha male of female resembling a patriarchal or matriarchal group.

Anyway thanks to anyone who reads this and is interested as well.

Oh and the name of the documentary for the Makos is "Smart, Swift, and Deadly"
Probably be able to buy it in the Discovery store.

That is a good experiment. I'm not too surprised (I'm impressed at the good science) at the intelligence. Predators know not to eat poisonous fish, etc. so they need to tell shapes, colors, etc. apart.

I have no doubt that great white's are at that levels too. Their hunting tricks for attacking seals from below are brilliant. Learned? Instinctive? I'm not sure but still impressive.

Seems like your interests in sharks catapaulted you from Sweet Lu silliness to an intelligent aquarist! Nice!

Thanks.

here here, he graduated from idiocy many months back, don't insult him by comparing him to Lu