Observation of an attack by a cookiecutter shark (Isistius brasiliensis) on a white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) Article

Hoyos-Padilla, M, Papastamatiou, YP, O'Sullivan, J et al. (2013). Observation of an attack by a cookiecutter shark (Isistius brasiliensis) on a white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) . 67(1), 129-134. 10.2984/67.1.10

cited authors

  • Hoyos-Padilla, M; Papastamatiou, YP; O'Sullivan, J; Lowe, CG

authors

abstract

  • Cookiecutter sharks (Isistius brasiliensis) are known to attack a wide array of large animals including pelagic fishes, cetaceans, and pinnipeds. Here we add another top predator, the white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), to the list of potential victims. A subadult male white shark off Guadelupe Island, Mexico, was observed with a fresh cookiecutter shark bite next to its mouth, as well as a second crescent-shaped scar. A subadult male white shark was tracked in the same location and showed diel changes in depth, with the shark occupying shallow water (<50 m) at night, which may be when white sharks overlap with the vertical distribution of cookiecutter sharks. This further indicates that the majority of co-occurring marine top predators can be targeted by cookiecutter sharks. © 2013 by University of Hawai'i Press All rights reserved.

publication date

  • January 1, 2013

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

start page

  • 129

end page

  • 134

volume

  • 67

issue

  • 1