Author Identifier (ORCID)
Emily Lester: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2207-5225
Abstract
Very little is known about the reproductive behaviours of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus). Here, we describe field observations of courtship behaviour by a whale shark at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. We witnessed and recorded following and biting behaviours by a sexually mature male of a smaller female. Following and biting are common events during courtship and copulation of other species of elasmobranchs. Our observations are consistent with earlier reports of courting behaviours in whale sharks provided by fishers, the pilot of a light plane and observations of courtship by a sexually mature male towards females held in aquaria.
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
1-1-2024
Volume
11
Publication Title
Frontiers in Marine Science
Publisher
Frontiers
School
School of Science
Funders
Santos Ltd. / Australian Institute of Marine Science / The Jock Clough Marine Foundation / The Minderoo Foundation / Australian Government Research Training Program
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Barry, C., Lester, E., Doane, M. P., Ferreira, L. C., Thums, M., Gleiss, A. C., & Meekan, M. G. (2025). Love bites? Pre-copulatory behaviours of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. Frontiers in Marine Science, 11, 1507072. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2024.1507072