Does the size of the shark make a difference? A comparison on reproductive behaviors.
The Small-Spotted Catshark, Oceanic Whitetip shark, and Whale shark are three distinct species. The catshark is categorized as a small shark, and prefers muddy or sandy substrates. In contrast, the Oceanic Whitetip shark is a medium-sized shark found in subtropical waters. Their largest counterpart, the Whale shark, is the largest known fish that likes to spend its time in the tropical or warm temperate ocean. Another feature that distinguishes these species is their reproductive, or mating, behaviors. We will examine each species’ mating behaviors and explore the similarities and differences, as well as how their sizes correlate to their specific mating behaviors.
At-A-Glance
Scientific Name – Scyliorhinus canicula (Small-Spotted Catshark), Carcharhinus longimanus (Oceanic Whitetip Shark), Rhincodon typus (Whale Shark)
Size – 2-3 ft/.5-1 m (Small-Spotted Catshark), 9-13 ft/2-4 m (Oceanic Whitetip Shark), 39-59 ft/10-18 m (Whale Shark).
Habitat – Ranging from North Atlantic to Mediterranean (Small-spotted Catshark), tropical or subtropical waters (Oceanic Whitetip Shark), tropical, warm waters (Whale Shark).
Diet: Small fish, squid, crab, and invertebrates (Small-spotted Catshark), Bony fishes, stingrays, sea turtles, birds, and dead whales (Oceanic Whitetip shark) Krill, crab and fish larvae, copepods, and shrimp (Whale shark).
Reproduction – Ovoviviparous (Small-spotted Catshark), Viviparous (Oceanic Whitetip Shark), Ovoviviparous (Whale Shark).
IUCN Listing – Least Concern (Small-spotted Catshark), Critically endangered (Oceanic Whitetip Shark), Endangered (Whale Shark).
Protection – Scientific data such as tagging and monitoring, some countries have created marine protected areas, which makes it illegal to hunt for sharks, some countries have banned shark fin trading (These sharks are hunted for their skin, fins, and liver oil).
Bet You Didn’t Know…
- Catsharks get their name from their cat-like eyes! They have long, round eyes with elongated pupils. This helps them see in low light conditions, and hunt in deep waters.
- Oceanic Whitetip Sharks are known as ‘sea dogs’. They like to follow ships, just like a dog likes to follow their owner.
- Whale Sharks are the world’s biggest fish! However, they feed on ocean’s smallest critters as they are filter feeders. They are completely harmless to humans.
Ready To Dive In?
The best time to dive with Catsharks is anytime during the year in:
- UK
- Australia
The best time to dive with Oceanic Whitetip Sharks is during the months of March-May:
- Cat Island, Bahamas
- Red Sea, Egypt
The best time to dive with Whale Sharks is during the months from June-Sept in:
- Donsol Bay, Philippines
- Ningaloo Reef, Australia
- Wolf and Darwin Island, Galapagos
- Isla Mujeres, Mexico
Science In The Spotlight
These distinctly sized shark species have many different mating behaviors that make them unique.
How do these 3 different sized sharks mate?
Do all sharks do “it” the same way?
Written by Liel Shachr, University of Florida, B.S. Natural Resource Conservation and Shark Angels Intern
Photos provided by Andy Murch, David Villegas, British Sub-Aqua Club, Jay Clue, Jamie Pollack