David Shiffman

Author bio

David Shiffman is a PhD student studying shark ecology and conservation at the Leonard and Jayne Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy at the University of Miami. He has written about sharks for Scientific American, Slate, New Scientist, Sport Diver magazine, and other outlets.

Articles by David Shiffman

Have Scientists Been Overestimating our Toll on Reef Sharks?

New research suggests we’ve hurt reef shark populations much less than previously assumed.

March 30th, 2017 | 600 words, about 3 minutes

In the Bahamas, Sharks Are Worth More Alive than Dead

Shark tourism is big business—but the money doesn’t always go where you’d think.

February 28th, 2017 | 600 words, about 3 minutes

Fingerprinting a Spotted Eagle Ray

New research confirms that spotted eagle rays’ prints are unique.

December 28th, 2016 | 450 words, about 2 minutes

This is the first two-headed shark discovered from an egg-laying shark species. Photo by Sans-Coma et al.

Two-Headed Shark Discovered in Spain

A baby shark with twice the bite.

October 20th, 2016 | 350 words, a quick read

This huge blacktip reef shark congregation was spotted in February 2014. Photo by Marine Nationale/Johann Mourier

Stumbling Upon a Swarm of Sixty Hungry Sharks

In French Polynesia, pilots and scientists find a huge group of blacktip reef sharks.

September 28th, 2015 | 300 words, a quick read

How Shark Week Can Save Its Image

The Alien Sharks documentary series is a great model for Discovery Channel’s future.

July 2nd, 2015 | 700 words, about 3 minutes

The skull and brain of one of the four salvaged blacktip sharks, post-dissection. Photo by David Shiffman

The Scientific Afterlife of Sharks

When four sharks died in Florida, their corpses were split among a dozen research projects.

May 19th, 2015 | 700 words, about 3 minutes

Hakai Magazine

Coastal science and societies