Scientists in a new study have found that hundreds of great hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna mokarran) gather at one point in the ocean during the full moon.
This is reported by IFLScience.
Experts have been studying the world’s rarest and most endangered sharks and their behavior in the central Pacific Ocean. They photographed and measured hammerhead sharks in two regions of French Polynesia: the Rapngiroa and Tikehau atolls.
In the summer of 2020 and 2021, a huge number of rare hammerhead sharks were spotted here, which are very rarely seen at other times. Most of the members of these large groups were adult females, as if gathering for a “sabbath” in the ocean on a full moon.
A little earlier, experts established that ocellated eagle rays (Aetobatus ocellatus) are attracted to the full Moon. And these animals are the favorite snack of hammerhead sharks.
It is noted that these predators migrate simultaneously with the availability of food. Their numerous accumulations in these parts of the ocean have been recorded for several years in a row. These movements are probably due to the feeding factor.
Researchers have an assumption that predators use the migration of ocellated rays (Aetobatus ocellatus). That is why they gather in the same place every year to hunt.
However, scientists urge caution in interpreting this connection between the coven of hammerhead sharks and eagle rays. There is a version that marine life can also behave due to certain environmental or biotic factors that provoke an increase in the numbers of both species at this point in the ocean.
Cursor also reported on the animal that lives the shortest.
2023-09-15 10:02:43
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