AI Article Synopsis
- Research on interactions between sharks and cetaceans is limited, but a new video shows a shortfin mako shark circling a finless porpoise with a damaged tail.
- The porpoise appeared healthy but couldn't swim properly due to the injury, and evidence like a bite mark indicates it may have been attacked by the shark.
- This observation suggests that mako sharks might hunt live cetaceans more frequently than previously believed, despite mostly feeding on small fish and cephalopods.
Article Abstract
Research on predator-prey interactions between sharks and cetaceans remain limited. Here, we report on a video of a shortfin mako shark circling a finless porpoise with a damaged caudal fin in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan. The finless porpoise was neither emaciated nor inactive, but unable to swim effectively due to the complete lack of a caudal fin. Some circumstantial evidence, including a bite mark on the porpoise's head, strongly suggests that the mako shark attacked it. Furthermore, the possible time difference between the two injuries the porpoise sustained may reflect the shark's hunting tactics. While mako sharks primarily feed on small fish and cephalopods, this observation suggests they also may prey on live cetaceans more often than previously thought.
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|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11255379 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70024 | DOI Listing |
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