Observations on the predatory behaviour of the sevengill shark Notorynchus cepedianus |
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| Abstract: | Studies on the feeding behaviour of large predatory sharks are inherently problematic because of the size of the animals, the difficulty in observing and handling them and the risks to the investigator. Observations on the feeding behaviour of the sevengill shark Notorynchus cepedianus over a seven-year period revealed this species to display at least four distinct foraging strategies. A particular strategy, or a combination of two or more, was employed depending on the size and type of prey being subdued. The four primary factors that appear to influence prey selection were prey size, availability and density, and scavenging. The behaviour of a prey species influences the predator's foraging and hunting behaviour. The success of the sevengill shark as an apical predator can be attributed, in part, to the feeding strategies it employs to subdue prey. |
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