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- Title
An Observation of Mating in Free-Ranging Blacktip Reef Sharks, Carcharhinus melanopterus.
- Authors
McCauley, Douglas J.; Papastamatiou, Yannis P.; Young, Hillary S.
- Abstract
We describe the mating behavior of free-ranging Blacktip Reef Sharks, Carcharhinus melanopterus, at Palmyra Atoll. This is the first primary report of mating in C. melanopterus and the first direct observation of mating for an obligate swimming shark species. Similar to that in other nonobligate swimming shark species, mating in C. melanopterus was characterized by multiple males following a single female, a male grabbing the female near the pectoral fin and positioning her head down on the bottom, and the insertion of a single clasper. Copulation lasted 68 sec, which is shorter than the durations recorded for most other shark species.
- Subjects
PALMYRA Atoll (Line Islands); LINE Islands; SILKY shark; CARCHARHINUS; ANIMAL courtship; ANIMAL sexual behavior; ANIMAL behavior
- Publication
Pacific Science, 2010, Vol 64, Issue 2, p349
- ISSN
0030-8870
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2984/64.2.349