Abstract
Abstract: Evidence suggests the great hammerhead shark, Sphyrna mokarran, is vulnerable to a variety of anthropogenic stressors, and is an understudied species of shark due to its cryptic nature and wide-ranging movements. While recognized as both a pelagic-coastal and a highly mobile predator, minimal anecdotal evidence exist describing shallow water habitat use by this species. This report describes six cases in which a great hammerhead shark utilizes an inshore shallow water flats environment (<1.5 m in depth), five of which involve prey capture. These observations permitted identification of two novel behaviors that may allow great hammerheads to inhabit these shallow habitats: a (1) prey-capture technique termed ‘grasp-turning’ that involves burst swimming at tight turning angles while grasping prey and (2) a post-predation recovery period whereby the shark maintains head-first orientation into the current that may facilitate respiration and prey consumption. These behavioral observations provide insights into the natural history of this species.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 235-249 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology |
| Volume | 49 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 3 2016 |
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Keywords
- behavior
- habitat use
- hammerhead
- predation
- Shark
- specializations
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Aquatic Science
- Oceanography
- Physiology
Cite this
Shallow water tidal flat use and associated specialized foraging behavior of the great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran). / Roemer, Robert P.; Gallagher, Austin J.; Hammerschlag, Neil.
In: Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology, Vol. 49, No. 4, 03.07.2016, p. 235-249.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Shallow water tidal flat use and associated specialized foraging behavior of the great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran)
AU - Roemer, Robert P.
AU - Gallagher, Austin J.
AU - Hammerschlag, Neil
PY - 2016/7/3
Y1 - 2016/7/3
N2 - Abstract: Evidence suggests the great hammerhead shark, Sphyrna mokarran, is vulnerable to a variety of anthropogenic stressors, and is an understudied species of shark due to its cryptic nature and wide-ranging movements. While recognized as both a pelagic-coastal and a highly mobile predator, minimal anecdotal evidence exist describing shallow water habitat use by this species. This report describes six cases in which a great hammerhead shark utilizes an inshore shallow water flats environment (<1.5 m in depth), five of which involve prey capture. These observations permitted identification of two novel behaviors that may allow great hammerheads to inhabit these shallow habitats: a (1) prey-capture technique termed ‘grasp-turning’ that involves burst swimming at tight turning angles while grasping prey and (2) a post-predation recovery period whereby the shark maintains head-first orientation into the current that may facilitate respiration and prey consumption. These behavioral observations provide insights into the natural history of this species.
AB - Abstract: Evidence suggests the great hammerhead shark, Sphyrna mokarran, is vulnerable to a variety of anthropogenic stressors, and is an understudied species of shark due to its cryptic nature and wide-ranging movements. While recognized as both a pelagic-coastal and a highly mobile predator, minimal anecdotal evidence exist describing shallow water habitat use by this species. This report describes six cases in which a great hammerhead shark utilizes an inshore shallow water flats environment (<1.5 m in depth), five of which involve prey capture. These observations permitted identification of two novel behaviors that may allow great hammerheads to inhabit these shallow habitats: a (1) prey-capture technique termed ‘grasp-turning’ that involves burst swimming at tight turning angles while grasping prey and (2) a post-predation recovery period whereby the shark maintains head-first orientation into the current that may facilitate respiration and prey consumption. These behavioral observations provide insights into the natural history of this species.
KW - behavior
KW - habitat use
KW - hammerhead
KW - predation
KW - Shark
KW - specializations
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84964600634&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84964600634&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/10236244.2016.1168089
DO - 10.1080/10236244.2016.1168089
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84964600634
VL - 49
SP - 235
EP - 249
JO - Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology
JF - Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology
SN - 1023-6244
IS - 4
ER -