DNA evidence of the consumption of short-beaked common dolphin Delphinus delphis by the shortfin mako shark Isurus oxyrinchus

S Biton Porsmoguer,M Merchán,A Viricel,Cf Boudouresque,D BˇAnaru,I Dekeyser

doi:10.3354/meps11327

Abstract

DNA evidence of the consumption of short-beaked common dolphin Delphinus delphis by the shortfin mako shark Isurus oxyrinchus

Highlights

Predation of marine mammals by sharks is often mentioned in the literature
Stomachs of shortfin mako sharks Isurus oxyrinchus caught in the northeastern Atlantic by Iberian longliners were analyzed
Biton Porsmoguer et al.: Shortfin mako is a predator of short-beaked common dolphin

Summary

Introduction

Predation of marine mammals by sharks is often mentioned in the literature. direct observation of a successful attack has very rarely been reported; some failed attacks have been noted. A fresh wound and healed scars on a Cuvier’s beaked whale Ziphius cavirostris were attributed to cookiecutter sharks Isistius plutodus (Pérez-Zayas et al 2002). Most such observations are based on marine mammal remains found in shark stomachs (e.g. Crespi-Abril et al 2003, McCord & Campana 2003, Lopez et al 2010). The presence of marine mammal remains in shark stomachs does not necessarily imply predation but may be due to scavenging, i.e. consumption of already dead individuals Such scavenging behaviour has been directly observed in C. carcharias (Domeier 2009)

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Conclusion