A recent long-term study, published by Royal Society Publishing, reveals surprising insights into the breaching behaviour of basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus). The study, based on biologging data, shows that these large marine fish breach the surface year-round and across wide areas.
Unexpected acrobatics
Until now, this energy-intensive breaching behaviour, also known as ‘breaching’, had been observed primarily in whales and dolphins as well as some other fish species. The researchers have now found that basking sharks also exhibit this behaviour with high intensity and over prolonged periods. “Our results reveal unexpectedly high breaching activity by basking sharks, from single jumps to series of up to nine consecutive jumps,” states the summary of the study by Royal Society Publishing.
The data show that basking sharks emerge from the water with vertical speeds of 2.6 to 9.1 metres per second, having reached depths of 15 to 30 metres before the jump. The behaviour was documented in all seasons, throughout the day and at various coastal locations.
The discovery of this widespread, year-round behaviour in basking sharks significantly expands understanding of the biology and energetics of this fascinating species.