Celebrated marine biologist Eugenie Clark, known as the 'Shark Lady,' dies at 92

Eugenie Clark.
(Image credit: Twitter.com/CoralReefFish)

Trailblazing marine biologist Eugenie Clark, who shed light on the secret life of sharks and discovered several species of fish during her long career, died Wednesday in Florida. She was 92.

Because she conducted so much research on sharks, Clark earned the nickname "Shark Lady." She discovered sleeping sharks suspended in water, which disproved the belief that sharks had to move in order to breathe. After Jaws came out, Clark went into overdrive educating people about sharks, and wrote a National Geographic story titled, "Sharks: Magnificent and Misunderstood." She also was a pioneer in using scuba gear to conduct research under the sea, and kept diving into her 90s. "She never outgrew this absolute fascination of looking and seeing and observing under water," says her friend and colleague, National Geographic photographer David Doubilet.

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.