This Tiny Shark Leaves Perfect Circles on Whales, Scientists Finally Explain How
The Daily Galaxy••science
Key Points:
- Researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa have identified the cookiecutter shark as the predator responsible for the distinctive circular wounds found on fish, marine mammals, and even submarines, based on a decade of bite data and environmental analysis.
- The study reveals the shark’s unique feeding method, where it attaches with a suction-like mouth and twists to remove a circular plug of flesh, aided by specialized teeth; these sharks also shed and swallow their teeth, possibly to recycle calcium.
- Cookiecutter shark attacks increase significantly at night, especially during new moon phases, with different prey species targeted at varying times, indicating the shark adjusts its behavior based on prey activity and light conditions.
- The research integrates modern scientific methods with traditional Polynesian fishing knowledge
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