Why sharks 'appear to be math genius' revealed

A new study has revealed that sharks possibly are more sensible than clever, which might make them appear like they are brilliant mathematicians.

Levy flight, the mathematician-like behavior attributed to sharks and certain other marine predators, animals and organisms, was a seemingly complex form of random walk comprising clusters of short step lengths with longer movements between them, Discovery News reported.

Andy Reynolds of Rothamsted Research said that sharks and other marine predators use Levy flight to locate their prey but it was in question how sharks perform it as they are not mathematicians.

Reynolds examined the possibility that sharks use cues from their environment, such as the turbulent waters that surround them.

Using the mathematics of what was known as "turbulent theory," researcher showed that the programming for Levy flight movements arises naturally if the predators change their direction of travel only after encountering patches of relatively strong turbulence.

The study mentioned that there was no need for sharks to have evolved sophisticated neurological and physiological processes for the execution of the Levy flights, which are the lead to optimal foraging; it would come for free if they just turn away from patches of strong turbulence.

Sharks therefore benefit on a daily basis without exerting much brainpower, conversely, humans tend to consciously and with great effort think their way out of problems.

The study is published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society A.