The Open Fish Science Journal

2013, 6 : 10-12
Published online 2013 March 08. DOI: 10.2174/1874401X01306010010
Publisher ID: TOFISHSJ-6-10

Clasper Flaring: Maintenance Behavior, or a Normally Hidden Feature of Male Whitetip Reef Sharks, Triaenodon Obesus?

EK Ritter and LVJ Compagno
Shark Resarch Institute, Florida Office 5970 Osprey Place, Pensacola, FL 32504, USA.

ABSTRACT

Male whitetip reef sharks, Triaenodon obsesus, are able to pivot their claspers beyond regular flexing, including spreading their distal tips in a funnel like fashion. The feature of this extended clasper flexing, labelled clasper flaring, is described here. It is speculated to possibly reflect a pre- or post-copulation-related behavior.

Keywords:

Clasper, copulation, flexing.