Unprecedented Discovery: Whale Sharks’ Playful ‘Cheeky Bite’ Pre-Mating Dance Captured at Ningaloo Reef

Expressions of affection, including dancing, vocalizing, and striking colors, have been extensively recorded in the animal realm.

However, a much less discreet behavior has been observed for the first time among the whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia, located 1,250 kilometers north of Perth.

Researcher Christine Barry, a doctoral candidate from the Australian Institute of Marine Science, remarked that she recognized immediately the behavior was exceptional.

“Which isn’t typically their behavior; they are not aggressive and usually swim around each other.”

“But the female appeared startled, turned around to see what had bitten her, and simply thought, ‘I need to get out of here.'”

The research divers then lost track of the female as she swiftly descended into deeper waters with the male closely following.

The male whale shark was believed to be sexually mature, contrasting with the juvenile female, which measured only 7 meters long, rendering mating between the pair improbable.

Ms. Barry stated that the incident shed further light on why male whale sharks may outnumber females by three to one at the popular congregating spot.

“We speculate that perhaps they [the females] are spending more time in offshore areas where they can be more solitary, thereby avoiding the harassment from mature males,” she said.

The region is plentiful for feeding, yet whale sharks are not regarded as social creatures and tend to prefer solitary travel.

In 2019, whale sharks were observed for the first time attempting to mate at Ningaloo.

However, very little is understood about the mating and breeding behaviors of these endangered fish, or their migratory patterns once they leave Ningaloo.

Love inflicts pain

The affectionate bites are also noted among other shark species, including tiger, blue, and nurse sharks.

Jessica Meeuwig, Wen Family Chair in Conservation at the University of Western Australia, stated that males tend to nip at the tails of females during mating to maintain them in a specific position.

“In some shark species, females actually possess thicker skin than males to endure this mating behavior,” Ms. Meeuwig mentioned.

“Yet we are also discovering evidence that females can be rather feisty and may retaliate with bites.

“The mating bites are typically considered gentler and less severe compared to those when sharks are feeding.”