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Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open
Journal article
Genetic Evidence of Killer Whale Predation on White Sharks in Australia
Ecology and evolution, Vol.15(1), pp.1-6
27/01/2025
PMID: 39872902
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
Killer whales (Orcinus orca) have been documented to prey on white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias), in some cases causing localised shark displacement and triggering ecological cascades. Notably, a series of such predation events have been reported from South Africa over the last decade, with killer whales specifically targeting sharks' liver. However, observations of these interactions are rare, and knowledge of their frequency across the world's oceans remains limited. In October 2023, a 4.7 m (total length) white shark carcass washed ashore in southeastern Australia, coinciding with reports from citizen scientists of killer whales hunting a large, unidentified prey item in the area. Visual inspection of the carcass revealed that the liver, digestive, and reproductive organs were missing, and the presence of four distinctive bite wounds, one of which was characteristic of killer whale liver extraction as seen in South Africa. Genomic analyses performed on swabs taken from the bite wounds confirmed the presence of killer whale DNA in the major bite area, while the other bites were embedded with genetic material from the scavenging broadnose sevengill shark (Notorynchus cepedianus). These results provide confirmed evidence of killer whale predation on white sharks in Australia and the likely selective consumption of the liver, suggesting predations of this nature are more globally prevalent than currently assumed.
Using a combination of wildlife forensics and citizen science, we provide the first evidence of killer whale predation on Australian white sharks, targeting the liver. This is the first time a predation event of this nature has been recorded outside of South Africa, suggesting they are perhaps more globally prevalent than currently assumed.
Details
- Title
- Genetic Evidence of Killer Whale Predation on White Sharks in Australia
- Creators
- Isabella M. M. Reeves - Cetacean Research Centre (CETREC WA)Andrew R. Weeks - EnviroDNAAlison V. Towner - University of MelbourneRachael Impey - EnviroDNAJessica J. Fish - Deakin UniversityZach S. R. Clark - Deakin UniversityPaul A. Butcher - New South Wales Department of Primary IndustriesLauren Meyer - Flinders UniversityDavid M. Donnelly - Killer Whales Australia (Victoria, Mornington)Charlie Huveneers - Flinders UniversityNicky Hudson - Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (Victoria, Heywood)Adam D. Miller - Deakin University
- Publication Details
- Ecology and evolution, Vol.15(1), pp.1-6
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons Ltd
- Number of pages
- 6
- Identifiers
- 991013253361202368
- Copyright
- © 2025 The Author(s)
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article