Source: BroBible
Summary
A TikTok user filmed what appeared to be a shark in floodwaters in New Jersey, sparking online debate. The video, which showed a suspicious fin moving against the current, received 1.4 million views. Experts identified the animal as a smooth dogfish, a small, non-threatening shark species. The footage was shared after recent flooding in the area. Some viewers speculated about the presence of multiple sharks. The video’s creator described the sighting as a “baby shark.”
Our Reading
The habit gets a new name.
Floods bring out the conspiracy theorists.
Sharks in the street = new normal.
Smooth dogfish = just another day in Jersey.
Water physics = the new astrology.
Author: Evan Null
Resident Films New Jersey Floods Outside Their Window. Uh, Is That A Shark In The Street?
Since the flooding, New Jersey has been in chaos. And a suspicious fin captured on camera hasn’t really helped matters.
Resilient as ever, New Jersey residents are trying to carry on as normal. Some even continued to run their half-marathon. But this mysterious sighting may well stop residents in their tracks. Literally.
The viral TikTok shows a distinctive fin moving against the current in a flooded New Jersey. It features on-screen text that reads, “Shark or just trash?!” Johnny Cash’s “Five Feet High And Rising” plays in the background. It has garnered 1.4 million views. BroBible reached out to the creator, @dadicationtv, via TikTok direct message.
People Analyze The Shark
Some commenters were horrified. “This is my biggest fear as a child I live in New York and I always thought the world was gonna flood and sharks are gonna come in my windows and eat me in case anybody was wondering,” one wrote.
“Swimming up the street against the current of the water? Yea do NOT go down those stairs,” a second advised.
Others turned to speculation. “You see how the water is going the opposite direction of that fin?” a third asked. “I’m not too confident in my dorsal fin identification, but I am confident in my knowledge of water physics. So at a minimum that’s a thing that breathes.”
“Decades of FL hurricane experience and hurricane emergency response experience here,” a fourth chimed in. “That’s a shark.”
A fifth then quipped, “Welcome to Jersey where we got sharks in the streets while we’re in our sheets.”
Several other commenters compared the unusual sighting to movies like “Sharknado” and “Thrasher.” These TikTok users also estimated that there was actually more than one shark.
Was It Really A Shark?
ABC News reported that they had Dr. Greg Skomal from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries review the footage. He identified the single shark as a smooth dogfish.
According to the Florida Museum, smooth dogfish can be identified by their cat-like eyes, triangular fins, and notched tail fins. It differs from most sharks because it has rows of flat teeth for grinding rather than rows of blades. Because it primarily hunts crustaceans and mollusks, these teeth are especially useful. They can use them to crush and grind these creatures.
The museum notes that it is a “migratory fish,” which means that it travels long distances in order to hunt and breed. On average, they are around 48 inches long. Because of their small size and smoother teeth, they are generally considered to be harmless to humans.
In terms of habitat, smooth dogfish tend to be found on “continental shelves, bays, and other inshore waters.” Smooth dogfish tend to prefer shallow waters of less than 60 feet. Despite this, they can reportedly be found in water as deep as 655 feet. The museum also states that although they can be found in freshwater, they can’t survive in it for long periods of time. Interestingly, it is reportedly a nocturnal species, which makes its appearance in the cold light of day in New Jersey a little bit puzzling.
Speaking to ABC (via Storyful), the person who filmed the video said, “At first we thought it was just a fish, which would have been cool, but a baby shark was even better.”
New Jersey isn’t the first U.S. state to experience flooding this year—Texas faced a similar flash flood back in May. And with sharks now showing up in New Jersey, who knows where they’ll end up next?
The post Resident Films New Jersey Floods Outside Their Window. Uh, Is That A Shark In The Street? appeared first on BroBible.
People Analyze The Shark
Some commenters were horrified. “This is my biggest fear as a child I live in New York and I always thought the world was gonna flood and sharks are gonna come in my windows and eat me in case anybody was wondering,” one wrote.
“Swimming up the street against the current of the water? Yea do NOT go down those stairs,” a second advised.
Others turned to speculation. “You see how the water is going the opposite direction of that fin?” a third asked. “I’m not too confident in my dorsal fin identification, but I am confident in my knowledge of water physics. So at a minimum that’s a thing that breathes.”
“Decades of FL hurricane experience and hurricane emergency response experience here,” a fourth chimed in. “That’s a shark.”
A fifth then quipped, “Welcome to Jersey where we got sharks in the streets while we’re in our sheets.”
Several other commenters compared the unusual sighting to movies like “Sharknado” and “Thrasher.” These TikTok users also estimated that there was actually more than one shark.
Was It Really A Shark?
ABC News reported that they had Dr. Greg Skomal from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries review the footage. He identified the single shark as a smooth dogfish.
According to the Florida Museum, smooth dogfish can be identified by their cat-like eyes, triangular fins, and notched tail fins. It differs from most sharks because it has rows of flat teeth for grinding rather than rows of blades. Because it primarily hunts crustaceans and mollusks, these teeth are especially useful. They can use them to crush and grind these creatures.
The museum notes that it is a “migratory fish,” which means that it travels long distances in order to hunt and breed. On average, they are around 48 inches long. Because of their small size and smoother teeth, they are generally considered to be harmless to humans.
In terms of habitat, smooth dogfish tend to be found on “continental shelves, bays, and other inshore waters.” Smooth dogfish tend to prefer shallow waters of less than 60 feet. Despite this, they can reportedly be found in water as deep as 655 feet. The museum also states that although they can be found in freshwater, they can’t survive in it for long periods of time. Interestingly, it is reportedly a nocturnal species, which makes its appearance in the cold light of day in New Jersey a little bit puzzling.
Speaking to ABC (via Storyful), the person who filmed the video said, “At first we thought it was just a fish, which would have been cool, but a baby shark was even better.”
New Jersey isn’t the first U.S. state to experience flooding this year—Texas faced a similar flash flood back in May. And with sharks now showing up in New Jersey, who knows where they’ll end up next?
