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At Mexican island, great white sharks are unusually social
Researchers have discovered an unusual gathering of great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) near Guadalupe Island, off Mexico’s Pacific Coast. Studying the movements of tagged sharks, researchers found they formed tight groups, patrolling for food together or in same-sex pairs. One pair spent about 70 minutes swimming together—longer than had ever been documented.
“Seventy minutes is a long time to be swimming around with another white shark,” said lead study author Yannis Papastamatiou, a marine scientist at Florida International University.
Often the interactions occurred near a seal breeding ground. “They aren’t working together but being social could be a way to share information,” Papastamatiou said.
Header Image: A great white shark swims off the coast of Mexico’s Guadalupe Island. Credit: Ben
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