The Open Fish Science Journal
2018, 11 : 46-51Published online 2018 November 30. DOI: 10.2174/1874401X01811010046
Publisher ID: TOFISHSJ-11-46
RESEARCH ARTICLE
How to Kill Another Shark: A First Inside Look at a Potential Hunting Strategy of the Galapagos Shark
* Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Mathematics & Statistics, University of West Florida 11000 University Parkway, Bldg. 4 Pensacola, Florida 32514, USA; E-mail: eritter@uwf.edu
ABSTRACT
Background:
Close-up videos of sharks foraging on other live sharks are rare, especially when it comes to footage of the entire duration of an event.
Objective:
Our goal was to present an in-depth analysis involving a Galapagos shark, Carcharhinus galapagensis, foraging on a whitetip reef shark, Triaenodon obesus.
Method:
A frame by frame video examination was used to highlight the different aspects of this bout.
Results:
Several behavioral characteristics, including the somewhat cryptic approach, the extensive shaking once the Galapagos shark had the whitetip reef shark between its jaws, and devouring tail-first, stand out in this event.
Conclusion:
The entire act appeared very smooth, indicating that this bout, or at least parts thereof, may represent a common hunting strategy for Galapagos sharks.