Shark Scars

Saw this youngish femaile shark at El Dorado. Pretty fresh either mating or territorial scars....

Ain't nature cruel and beautiful at the same time

David Haas

Hey if you don't have anything to grab onto em with...

Yep, thats more than just a poodle on your leg.

Nice shots Dave, always amazes me to see the absolutely horrific scarring on the females during mating season. For those interested in seeing that sort of thing, march is a great time to see it in Palau and it is going on big time today in Rangiroa, French Polynesia (full moon in june)

Mike

The more I examine this I think it's territorial. I have photos of a Great White shark somewhere (will have to search CDs) showing almost the same front gill area and head bites.

The big gash could be from a fishing hook, although the scars by the gills are DEFINITELY shark teeth inflicted.

Hmmmmmm.......

David Haas

I have a similar shot with love bites

this doesn't look like as big of a gash and is further back..

Tony

In sharks males usually try to grab onto the pectoral fins to get a good hold on the female, and then twist their bodies into position to insert the claspers (one at a time). Most mating bites will occur on the fins and body sides just anterior to the pec fins. The placement of this bite on the top of the head and lower jaw indicate it was probably with aggressive intent - most likely when the shark in the picture attempted to eat the same morsel of food a larger shark was also trying to eat. I just returned from Bimini where it is in the height of Caribbean Reef Shark mating season and took some mating scar pics - I will have an update that Eric can post soon...

regards...

- MP

Just to clarify - the shark in Dave's pics seeem to have conspecific aggression bites - my pics shows mating scars - note the ragged pectoral fin. I think I was a little unclear in the last post...

regards...

- MP

I think this is the same shark David, one week later. The scars look to be healing.

Holey cow - that is cool Todd. That shark is healing fast.

No cancer, fast healing, are sharks the perfect animals???

Cheers

James

Very interesting pics, maybe looks like fighting scars? I think - not sure - mating scars are not so deep. Thanks for sharing