Thresher shark - near Rathlin Island (1 Viewer)

[JTweedie]

Super photos of a thresher shark breaching near Rathlin Island.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1419207588701483008

 

[JWN Andrewes]

Good grief!!!!!!

 

[Farnboro John]

Good grief!!!!!!

What he said!!!

John

 

[Andy Adcock]

Why would a Thresher breach, was it on the end of a fishing line, can't think of any other way to get the shot either?

 

[Bismarck Honeyeater]

Why would a Thresher breach, was it on the end of a fishing line, can't think of any other way to get the shot either?

It’s what they do.

 

[Andy Adcock]

It’s what they do.

To what end?

 

[JWN Andrewes]

To what end?

Looks like fun to me. I would.

 

[Bismarck Honeyeater]

To what end?

🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[Andy Adcock]

🤷🏻‍♂️

I can't even read that so some wise guy response is wasted.

 

[JWN Andrewes]

One possibility is that it's a way of slapping off ectoparasites.

 

[Bismarck Honeyeater]

I can't even read that so some wise guy response is wasted.

Guy I may be, but no wisdom from me I’m afraid. The emoji is a man shrugging his arms, as if to say I don’t know - which I don’t.

 

[Bismarck Honeyeater]

One possibility is that it's a way of slapping off ectoparasites.

I’ve read that too, but don’t really buy it, otherwise everything would be breaching all the time. Maybe.

 

[AFeather]

Thresher Sharks Use Tail-Slaps as a Hunting Strategy

The hunting strategies of pelagic thresher sharks (Alopias pelagicus) were investigated at Pescador Island in the Philippines. It has long been suspected that thresher sharks hunt with their scythe-like tails but the kinematics associated with the behaviour in the wild are poorly understood...

journals.plos.org

They apparently hunt with their tails

 

[JTweedie]

Here's footage of them stunning prey with their tails.

 

[jogresh]

One possibility is that it's a way of slapping off ectoparasites.

Yes i've always thought this could be one of the reasons. If you think about it, we all need a good scratch now and then. Think of all the animals you see with a paw behind their ear or rubbing against a tree etc etc. Some cetaceans rub against rocks in shallow water - belugas come to mind. But if for whatever reason, you're not into that, then a belly flop would seem to be the only alternative. The other reason given is for display (at least with humpbacks etc), which also seems reasonable.

 

[Mad4Birds]

Whatever the reason, ORCA surveyors aboard cruise ships have had recorded 3 and Sea Trust 2 off Strumble Head - all in the Irish Sea in the last 4 weeks! Its happening!!

 

[KC Foggin]

Whatever the reason, ORCA surveyors aboard cruise ships have had recorded 3 and Sea Trust 2 off Strumble Head - all in the Irish Sea in the last 4 weeks! Its happening!!

I'm just going to jump in here and wish you a warm welcome to you from those of us on staff here at BirdForum
We're glad you found us and please join in wherever you like

 

[Mad4Birds]

I'm just going to jump in here and wish you a warm welcome to you from those of us on staff here at BirdForum
We're glad you found us and please join in wherever you like

Cheers - although somehow I seemed to have a created a second account/profile somehow??

 

[KC Foggin]

Cheers - although somehow I seemed to have a created a second account/profile somehow??

Was it the same user name? If we can find it we can have admin join the threads.

 

[Mad4Birds]

Was it the same user name? If we can find it we can have admin join the threads.

Ahh, think that's the problem. Original was Andrew Crowder - then think I've used my email address