In a remarkable discovery, scientists have unveiled the complex mating behaviors of sand tiger sharks (Carcharias taurus) off the coast of North Carolina. This study, published on December 4 in the journal Environmental Biology of Fishes, utilized bite wounds as a novel method to understand shark reproduction.
Researchers observed mating activity in an aquarium, noting that male sharks often bite females during mating, resulting in severe wounds. To quantify this, they developed a scale from 1 to 4 to categorize the severity and healing stages of these wounds.
Analysis of 2,876 photographs of sand tiger sharks from 2005 to 2020 revealed that late May marks the beginning of the mating season, peaking in July. Interestingly, many females remained in the area post-mating, showing signs of healing wounds, indicating that the location serves as both a mating and gestation habitat.
This study not only sheds light on the reproductive behaviors of a critically endangered species but also highlights the surprisingly rapid healing abilities of sharks, with deep wounds healing in just 22 days. Such insights could have significant implications for the conservation and understanding of shark biology.