David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈
@whysharksmatter.bsky.social
I am a marine conservation biologist studying sharks and a science writer. Posts are about science and the environment, science communication, and more! He/him
While acknowledging the challenges of finding an equitable venue, I might suggest that not hosting 10,000 government delegates from around the world in a city whose plumbing doesn't work very well.
Any system that requires 10,000 busy people to read and remember an e-mail will fail.
Any system that requires 10,000 busy people to read and remember an e-mail will fail.
November 10, 2025 at 4:05 PM
While acknowledging the challenges of finding an equitable venue, I might suggest that not hosting 10,000 government delegates from around the world in a city whose plumbing doesn't work very well.
Any system that requires 10,000 busy people to read and remember an e-mail will fail.
Any system that requires 10,000 busy people to read and remember an e-mail will fail.
I’m learning Canva to share more marine biology facts on Instagram!
🦑🧪🌎🦈
🦑🧪🌎🦈
November 10, 2025 at 2:08 PM
I’m learning Canva to share more marine biology facts on Instagram!
🦑🧪🌎🦈
🦑🧪🌎🦈
Today @cbquist.bsky.social of @scifri.bsky.social joined us for a day of shark research!
November 9, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Today @cbquist.bsky.social of @scifri.bsky.social joined us for a day of shark research!
Today @daryllmarie.bsky.social , who runs the bluesky marine life feed 🦑, joined us for a day of shark research!
November 9, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Today @daryllmarie.bsky.social , who runs the bluesky marine life feed 🦑, joined us for a day of shark research!
Oh, changing the time by one hour for Daylight Savings is messing with your sleep schedule? "Why is it dark at 5 p.m.," you ask?
Frilled sharks live in such deep water that they never see the sun at all! You didn't think about THAT, did you? No, you only ever think about yourself.
Frilled sharks live in such deep water that they never see the sun at all! You didn't think about THAT, did you? No, you only ever think about yourself.
November 7, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Oh, changing the time by one hour for Daylight Savings is messing with your sleep schedule? "Why is it dark at 5 p.m.," you ask?
Frilled sharks live in such deep water that they never see the sun at all! You didn't think about THAT, did you? No, you only ever think about yourself.
Frilled sharks live in such deep water that they never see the sun at all! You didn't think about THAT, did you? No, you only ever think about yourself.
I think about this post every day 🧪
November 7, 2025 at 12:15 PM
I think about this post every day 🧪
BlueSky shoutout on Abbot Elementary!
November 6, 2025 at 7:31 PM
BlueSky shoutout on Abbot Elementary!
Fill in the blank!
The claspers, or male reproductive organs, of the whale shark can reach 106 cm, nearly 3.5 feet long!
That makes them the second biggest dick in the world, after _______
(Image and measurement from Rohner et al 2015)
The claspers, or male reproductive organs, of the whale shark can reach 106 cm, nearly 3.5 feet long!
That makes them the second biggest dick in the world, after _______
(Image and measurement from Rohner et al 2015)
November 6, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Fill in the blank!
The claspers, or male reproductive organs, of the whale shark can reach 106 cm, nearly 3.5 feet long!
That makes them the second biggest dick in the world, after _______
(Image and measurement from Rohner et al 2015)
The claspers, or male reproductive organs, of the whale shark can reach 106 cm, nearly 3.5 feet long!
That makes them the second biggest dick in the world, after _______
(Image and measurement from Rohner et al 2015)
If you’re calling these animals a “sea flap flap,” your taxonomy is out of date and you really need to get with the times.
Rays have been called “charismatic pancakes of wonder” for many years now.
Rays have been called “charismatic pancakes of wonder” for many years now.
November 5, 2025 at 12:22 PM
If you’re calling these animals a “sea flap flap,” your taxonomy is out of date and you really need to get with the times.
Rays have been called “charismatic pancakes of wonder” for many years now.
Rays have been called “charismatic pancakes of wonder” for many years now.
Early exits from Virginia:
November 5, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Early exits from Virginia:
I led a science communication clinic at the European Elasmobranch Association conference in Rotterdam! Yes, I’d be happy to do something like this as your conference. Let’s chat!
#SciComm 🦑🧪🌎🦈
#SciComm 🦑🧪🌎🦈
October 31, 2025 at 8:18 AM
I led a science communication clinic at the European Elasmobranch Association conference in Rotterdam! Yes, I’d be happy to do something like this as your conference. Let’s chat!
#SciComm 🦑🧪🌎🦈
#SciComm 🦑🧪🌎🦈
What? What do you wear to the closing gala of important conferences in your field?
October 30, 2025 at 10:42 PM
What? What do you wear to the closing gala of important conferences in your field?
Sharks absolutely get cancer, and people claiming otherwise are pseudoscientific grifters preying on the desperate.
Even if sharks did not get cancer, eating shark would not cure your cancer any more than eating LeBron James would make you better at basketball.
Even if sharks did not get cancer, eating shark would not cure your cancer any more than eating LeBron James would make you better at basketball.
October 30, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Sharks absolutely get cancer, and people claiming otherwise are pseudoscientific grifters preying on the desperate.
Even if sharks did not get cancer, eating shark would not cure your cancer any more than eating LeBron James would make you better at basketball.
Even if sharks did not get cancer, eating shark would not cure your cancer any more than eating LeBron James would make you better at basketball.
@rachhson.bsky.social at #EEA2025
Trait-based ecology uses biological features to predict an animal’s ecology.
Sharks with certain fin shapes shapes have bigger gillslits, faster swimming speeds.
Can be measured from museum specimens- Rachel spent months in museums all over Europe.
Trait-based ecology uses biological features to predict an animal’s ecology.
Sharks with certain fin shapes shapes have bigger gillslits, faster swimming speeds.
Can be measured from museum specimens- Rachel spent months in museums all over Europe.
October 30, 2025 at 8:12 AM
@rachhson.bsky.social at #EEA2025
Trait-based ecology uses biological features to predict an animal’s ecology.
Sharks with certain fin shapes shapes have bigger gillslits, faster swimming speeds.
Can be measured from museum specimens- Rachel spent months in museums all over Europe.
Trait-based ecology uses biological features to predict an animal’s ecology.
Sharks with certain fin shapes shapes have bigger gillslits, faster swimming speeds.
Can be measured from museum specimens- Rachel spent months in museums all over Europe.
Back at the Rotterdam Zoo for day 2 of the European Elasmobranch (shark or ray) Association meeting!
Follow for the latest shark science from Europe!
#EEA2025 🦑🧪🌎🦈🐠
Follow for the latest shark science from Europe!
#EEA2025 🦑🧪🌎🦈🐠
October 30, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Back at the Rotterdam Zoo for day 2 of the European Elasmobranch (shark or ray) Association meeting!
Follow for the latest shark science from Europe!
#EEA2025 🦑🧪🌎🦈🐠
Follow for the latest shark science from Europe!
#EEA2025 🦑🧪🌎🦈🐠
Hello from Rotterdam
October 29, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Hello from Rotterdam
@elasmoproject.bsky.social at #EEA2025 is discussing the Important Shark and Ray Areas project, which make sure that marine protected areas for sharks are based on the best scientific data.
🧪🦑🌎🐠🦈
🧪🦑🌎🐠🦈
October 29, 2025 at 10:33 AM
@elasmoproject.bsky.social at #EEA2025 is discussing the Important Shark and Ray Areas project, which make sure that marine protected areas for sharks are based on the best scientific data.
🧪🦑🌎🐠🦈
🧪🦑🌎🐠🦈
The European tracking network is a data sharing platform for acoustic fish telemetry. Claudia Meneses at #Elasmo25 is explaining the system to attendees and encouraging us to join and share. 1,665 tagged sharks and rays so far!
@aquatictracking.bsky.social 🦑🧪🌎🐠🦈
@aquatictracking.bsky.social 🦑🧪🌎🐠🦈
October 29, 2025 at 9:29 AM
The European tracking network is a data sharing platform for acoustic fish telemetry. Claudia Meneses at #Elasmo25 is explaining the system to attendees and encouraging us to join and share. 1,665 tagged sharks and rays so far!
@aquatictracking.bsky.social 🦑🧪🌎🐠🦈
@aquatictracking.bsky.social 🦑🧪🌎🐠🦈
Was not expecting to be greeted by @darthbluesky.bsky.social at the Rotterdam Zoo!
October 29, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Was not expecting to be greeted by @darthbluesky.bsky.social at the Rotterdam Zoo!
Hello from the European Elasmobranch Association conference in Rotterdam!
October 29, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Hello from the European Elasmobranch Association conference in Rotterdam!
Met a celebrity today at Portlantis Rotterdam- the largest ship in the world! The new name is better….
October 28, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Met a celebrity today at Portlantis Rotterdam- the largest ship in the world! The new name is better….
Seeing my favorite Amish cover band, and I got to meet Big Daddy Abel! Amish Outlaws 4 Lyfe!
October 18, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Seeing my favorite Amish cover band, and I got to meet Big Daddy Abel! Amish Outlaws 4 Lyfe!
I'm attending the upcoming European Elasmobranch Association conference in Rotterdam, where I'll be running a science communication clinic for scientists and conservationists to ask me questions.
Who will I see there?
Who will I see there?
October 17, 2025 at 11:59 AM
I'm attending the upcoming European Elasmobranch Association conference in Rotterdam, where I'll be running a science communication clinic for scientists and conservationists to ask me questions.
Who will I see there?
Who will I see there?
Eileen’s bachelorette party is this weekend.
Want to buy her a drink?
Want to buy her a drink?
October 17, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Eileen’s bachelorette party is this weekend.
Want to buy her a drink?
Want to buy her a drink?
Ten years old today
October 16, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Ten years old today