A seal plunges into the sea. It dives deep. It spins through the seaweed, looking for fish to eat. Not far away, a great white shark


waits. It is also hungry. T e shark’s skin is sensitive. It can feel the seal moving in the water. T e shark changes direction. It speeds toward the seal. T e shark swims closer. T e seal’s


heartbeat gives off tiny pulses of electricity. T e shark follows the faint signal. Now the shark smells the seal.


T e shark zigs and then zags. Its head swings from side to side. It sniff s the water with one nostril.


T en it sniff s with the other. T is helps it to know where the seal is.


A cape fur seal dives deep, chasing a fi sh it wants to eat.


T e seal doesn’t notice the shark.


It’s chasing a fish. Besides, the shark is hard to spot. Its belly is white. Its back is black. T ese colors blend into the water around it. T is helps the shark get close to prey. Sharks are ambush predators. T ey get close, then attack. Now the shark is very close to the


seal. T e shark opens its mouth wide. T e seal senses danger. It turns. It can see the shark’s sharp teeth. T e frantic seal swims away. T e shark easily catches up. Both the seal and the shark burst


out of the water. T e shark’s jaws snap shut. Its teeth just miss the seal’s tail. T e seal twists in midair and dives


back into the sea. It swims away in a zigzag pattern. It’s safe for now. T e shark is a good hunter, but this time, it missed its dinner.


4 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER


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