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  1. Publication of a scientific paper on the captive delivery of a tiger shark
Okinawa Churashima Foundation RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Research on marine organisms

Publication of a scientific paper on the captive delivery of a tiger shark

Tiger sharks are large sharks that can grow to over 4 meters in length. Tiger sharks are one of the largest species of fish-eating shark living around Okinawa. In March 2017, a tiger shark at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium gave birth to 30 pups.

There had been cases in the United States where fetuses from a deceased mother shark were taken from the womb and cared for in captivity. However, this was the world’s first natural delivery in captivity.

Through observation of the birth, we learned more about tiger shark reproduction such as delivery takes more than 3 hours, and all pups came out tail first.

Also, we observed an unusual behavior in the pups right after birth when they alternately swam then rested. This is thought to be equivalent to the crawling stage of a human baby where the pups are learning and improving their swimming skills.


The pregnant tiger shark (upper) and its pups (lower)


Authors

Taketeru Tomita, Hideyuki Touma, Kiyomi Murakumo, Makio Yanagisawa, Nagisa Yano, Shin-ichiro Oka, Kei Miyamoto, Nozomi Hanahara, Keiichi Sato

Title of paper

Captive Birth of Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) Reveals a Shift in Respiratory Mode during Parturition

Title of journal

Copeia

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1643/CI-17-683


 

 

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