Register      Login
Marine and Freshwater Research Marine and Freshwater Research Society
Advances in the aquatic sciences
RESEARCH ARTICLE

First observations of dusky sharks (Carcharhinus obscurus) attacking a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) calf

M. L. Dicken A B F , A. A. Kock C D and M. Hardenberg E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board, 1a Herrwood Drive, Umhlanga Rocks 4320, South Africa.

B Department of Development Studies, School of Economics, Development and Tourism, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, PO Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa.

C Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.

D Shark Spotters, PO Box 22581, Fish Hoek, Cape Town 7974, South Africa.

E Shark Explorers, 62 St Georges Street, Simonstown, Cape Town 7975, South Africa.

F Corresponding author. Email address: matt@shark.co.za

Marine and Freshwater Research 66(12) 1211-1215 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF14317
Submitted: 9 October 2014  Accepted: 13 December 2014   Published: 4 May 2015

Abstract

Direct observations of sharks attacking mysticetes are rare. The present study provides the first direct observation of dusky sharks (Carcharhinus obscurus) attacking a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) calf. The event was witnessed on 16 July 2014 within the Pondoland Marine Protected Area, South Africa, during the annual sardine run. The event involved a group of ~10 to 20 dusky sharks ranging in length between 2 and 3 m. The sharks followed in a loose group behind the whale and attacked it while it was on the surface as well as when diving. Shark bites were concentrated on the left-hand side of the whale’s body primarily between the pectoral fin and tail fluke, with almost no bites on the right-hand side. Most of the bites were superficial and resulted in tooth impressions and scrapes with little tissue removed. The condition of the calf deteriorated over the study period and it was presumed to have drowned from exhaustion when it stopped surfacing. These observations provide a new insight into the potential threat that dusky sharks may pose to whale calves.

Additional keywords: predator–prey, sardine run, South Africa.


References

Aitken, A. (2004). ‘Sardine Run. The Greatest Shoal on Earth. A Field Guide to the Sardine Run, Sharks and Other Marine Life on the Eastern Coast of South Africa.’ (Ince Pty Ltd: South Africa.)

Armstrong, M. J., Chapman, P., Dudley, S. F. J., Hampton, I., and Malan, P. E. (1991). Occurrence and population structure of pilchard Sardinops ocellatus, round herring Etrumeus whiteheadi and anchovy Engraulis capensis off the east coast of South Africa. South African Journal of Science 11, 227–249.
Occurrence and population structure of pilchard Sardinops ocellatus, round herring Etrumeus whiteheadi and anchovy Engraulis capensis off the east coast of South Africa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Barrett-Lennard, L. G., Matkin, C. O., Durban, J. W., Saulitis, E. L., and Ellifrit, D. (2011). Predation on gray whales and prolonged feeding on submerged carcasses by transient killer whales at Unimak Island, Alaska. Marine Ecology Progress Series 421, 229–241.
Predation on gray whales and prolonged feeding on submerged carcasses by transient killer whales at Unimak Island, Alaska.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bass, A. J., D’Aubrey, J. D., and Kistnasamy, N. (1973). Sharks of the east coast of southern Africa. 1. The genus Carcharhinus (Carcharhinidae). Investigational Report number 33. Durban.

Best, P. B., Findlay, K. P., Sekiguchi, K., Peddemors, V. M., Rakotonirina, B., Rossouw, A., and Gove, D. (1998). Winter distribution and possible migration routes of humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae in the southwest Indian Ocean. Marine Ecology Progress Series 162, 287–299.
Winter distribution and possible migration routes of humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae in the southwest Indian Ocean.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bornatowski, H., Wedekin, L. L., Heithaus, M. R., Marcondes, M. C. C., and Rossi-Santos, M. R. (2012). Shark scavenging and predation on cetaceans at Abrolhos Bank, eastern Brazil. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 92, 1767–1772.
Shark scavenging and predation on cetaceans at Abrolhos Bank, eastern Brazil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Cartwright, R., and Sullivan, M. (2009). A behavioral ontogeny in humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) calves during their residence in Hawaiian waters. Marine Mammal Science 25, 659–680.
A behavioral ontogeny in humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) calves during their residence in Hawaiian waters.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Clapham, P. J., and Baker, C. S. (2002). Modern whaling. In ‘Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals’. (Eds W. F. Perrin, B. Würsig, and J. G. M. Thewissen.) pp. 1328–1332. (Academic Press: New York.)

Clapham, P. J., Wetmore, S. E., Smith, T. D., and Mead, G. (1999). Length at birth and at independence in humpback whales. The Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 1, 141–146.

Cockcroft, V. G. (1991). Incidence of shark bites on Indian Ocean hump-backed dolphins (Sousa plumbea) off Natal, South Africa. Report of the International Whaling Commission. Special Issue 12, 277–282.

Cockcroft, V. G., Cliff, G., and Ross, G. J. B. (1989). Shark predation on Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus off Natal, South Africa. South African Journal of Zoology 24, 305–310.

Compagno, L. J. V. (1984). FAO Species catalogue. Vol. 4. Sharks of the World; an annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 2. Carcharhiniformes. FAO Fisheries Synopsis 125, 489–491.

Dudley, S. F. J., and Simpfendorfer, C. A. (2006). Population status of 14 shark species caught in the protective gillnets off KwaZulu-Natal beaches, South Africa 1978–2003. Marine and Freshwater Research 57, 225–240.
Population status of 14 shark species caught in the protective gillnets off KwaZulu-Natal beaches, South Africa 1978–2003.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Dudley, S. F. J., Cliff, G., Zungu, M. P., and Smale, M. J. (2005). Sharks caught in protective gill nets off KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. 10. The dusky shark Carcharhinus obscurus (Lesueur 1818). African Journal of Marine Science 27, 107–127.
Sharks caught in protective gill nets off KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. 10. The dusky shark Carcharhinus obscurus (Lesueur 1818).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Etnier, S. A., McLellan, W. A., Blumand, J., and Pabst, D. A. (2008). Ontogenetic changes in the structural stiffness of the tailstock of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). The Journal of Experimental Biology 211, 3205–3213.
Ontogenetic changes in the structural stiffness of the tailstock of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD1cnkslyjuw%3D%3D&md5=c30ab25dbed36d9b72840c79447a5cfeCAS | 18840654PubMed |

Findlay, K. P. (1994). The migrations of east coast humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Ph.D. Thesis, University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Findlay, K. P., Best, P. B., Peddemors, V. M., and Gove, D. (1994). The distribution and abundance of humpback whales on their Mozambique winter grounds. Report of the International Whaling Commission 44, 311–320.

Ford, J. K. B., and Reeves, R. R. (2008). Fight or flight: antipredator strategies in baleen whales. Mammal Review 38, 50–86.
Fight or flight: antipredator strategies in baleen whales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Heithaus, M. R. (2001a). Predator–prey and competitive interactions between sharks (order Selachii) and dolphins (suborder Odontoceti): a review. Journal of Zoology 253, 53–68.
Predator–prey and competitive interactions between sharks (order Selachii) and dolphins (suborder Odontoceti): a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Heithaus, M. R. (2001b). Shark attacks on bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in Shark Bay, Western Australia: attack rate, bite scar frequencies, and attack seasonality. Marine Mammal Science 17, 526–539.
Shark attacks on bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in Shark Bay, Western Australia: attack rate, bite scar frequencies, and attack seasonality.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Long, D. J. (1991). Apparent predation by a white shark Carcharodon carcharias on a pygmy sperm whale Kogia breviceps. Fishery Bulletin 89, 538–540.

Long, D. J., and Jones, R. E. (1996). White shark predation and scavenging on cetaceans in the eastern North Pacific Ocean. In ‘Great White Sharks: the Biology of Carcharodon carcharias’. (Eds A. P. Klimley and D. G. Ainley.) pp. 293–307. (Academic Press: San Diego, CA.)

Maldini, D. (2003). Evidence of predation by a tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) on a spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata) off Oahu, Hawaii. Aquatic Mammals 29, 84–87.
Evidence of predation by a tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) on a spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata) off Oahu, Hawaii.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Matthews, L. H. (1938). The humpback whale, Megaptera nodosa. Discovery Reports 17, 7–92.

Mazzuca, L., Atkinson, S., and Nitta, E. (1998). Deaths and entanglements of humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, in the main Hawaiian Islands, 1972–1996. Pacific Science 52, 1–13.

McBride, A. F., and Kritzler, H. (1951). Observations on pregnancy, parturition, and postnatal behavior in the bottlenose dolphin. Journal of Mammalogy 32, 251–266.
Observations on pregnancy, parturition, and postnatal behavior in the bottlenose dolphin.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Naessig, P. J., and Lanyon, J. M. (2004). Levels and probable origin of predatory scarring on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in east Australian waters. Wildlife Research 31, 163–170.
Levels and probable origin of predatory scarring on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in east Australian waters.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

O’Donoghue, S. H., Drapeau, L., and Peddemors, V. M. (2010). Broad-scale distribution patterns of sardine and their predators in relation to remotely sensed environmental conditions during the KwaZulu-Natal sardine run. African Journal of Marine Science 32, 279–291.
Broad-scale distribution patterns of sardine and their predators in relation to remotely sensed environmental conditions during the KwaZulu-Natal sardine run.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Reeves, R. R., Berger, J., and Clapham, P. J. (2006). Killer whales as predators of large baleen whales and sperm whales. In ‘Whales, Whaling, and Ocean Ecosystems’. (Eds J. A. Estes, D. P. DeMaster, D. F. Doak, T. M. Williams, and R. L. Brownell Jr) pp. 174–187. (University of California Press: Berkeley, CA.)

Smale, M. J. (1991). Occurrence and feeding of three shark species, Carcharhinus brachyurus, C. obscurus and S. zygaena on the Eastern Cape coast of South Africa. South African Journal of Marine Science 11, 31–42.
Occurrence and feeding of three shark species, Carcharhinus brachyurus, C. obscurus and S. zygaena on the Eastern Cape coast of South Africa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Taylor, J. K. D., Mandelman, J. W., McLellan, W. A., Moore, M. J., Skomal, G. B., Rotstein, D. S., and Kraus, S. D. (2013). Shark predation on North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) in the southeastern United States calving ground. Marine Mammal Science 29, 204–212.
Shark predation on North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) in the southeastern United States calving ground.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Turnbull, S. D., and Dion, D. (2012). White shark (Carcharodon carcharias) attack on a harbor porpoise (Phocaena phocaena) in the Bay of Fundy, Canada. Northeastern Naturalist 19, 705–707.
White shark (Carcharodon carcharias) attack on a harbor porpoise (Phocaena phocaena) in the Bay of Fundy, Canada.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

van der Lingen, C. D., Coetzee, J. C., and Hutching, L. (2010). Overview of the KwaZulu-Natal sardine run. African Journal of Marine Science 32, 271–277.
Overview of the KwaZulu-Natal sardine run.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |