Interaction between killer whales (Orcinus orca) and hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna sp.) in Galápagos waters

A possible predatory interaction between killer whales (Orcinus orca) and hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna sp.) was observed during April 1991 near Punta Cormorant, Galápagos Islands. Three killer whales were observed in close proximity to a freshly dead female hammerhead. One of the killer whales (approx...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals
Main Authors: Sonnino Sorisio, L., De Maddalena, A., Visser, I. N.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Sociedad Latinoamericana de Especialistas en Mamíferos Acuáticos (SOLAMAC) 2006
Subjects:
Orca
Orcinus orca
Online Access:http://lajamjournal.org/index.php/lajam/article/view/239
https://doi.org/10.5597/lajam00095
Description
Summary:A possible predatory interaction between killer whales (Orcinus orca) and hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna sp.) was observed during April 1991 near Punta Cormorant, Galápagos Islands. Three killer whales were observed in close proximity to a freshly dead female hammerhead. One of the killer whales (approximately 6m in length) was observed motionless in a vertical position above the shark carcass and later was seen chasing an approximately 40cm hammerhead, supposedly a pup born prematurely from the dead shark. The sharks are thought to have been scalloped hammerheads (S. lewini).

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