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-- A t t a c k s b y a n i m a l s --
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| Q 1. | ||
| How many species of sharks have been known to attack man? |
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| Q 2. | ||
| During a social gathering last week some of my friends began discussing the likelihood of a shark or a barracuda attacking a person in the coastal waters of Florida. Though we all know how dangerous these fishes are, no one could actually cite a positive example of these fish having actually attacked a man locally. Can you tell us if any documented occurrences exist? |
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| Q 3. | ||
| Could you tell me what fish there is in the sea which is large enough to cut a man's body cleanly in half. The incident to which I refer, happened in the Mediterranean a number of years ago. A diver was diving between the island of Crete and the coast of Africa and on the way to the surface his body was cut cleanly diagonally across the shoulders. I have always wondered what fish was large enough to do this. |
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| Q 4. | ||
| Some years ago, between the island of Crete and the coast of Africa, a diver was cut cleanly in half across the shoulders. What kind of fish could have done this? |
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| Q 5. | ||
| I read recently that a man handling sharks at an aquarium was bitten. Are there any recent records of swimmers who were attacked by sharks in the United States waters? |
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| Q 6. | ||
| Recently I read a story about a reef in which a man was seized "in the jaws of one of those accursed sculpins of the deep water, a tonu, ten feet long." I have not heard of this fish before and have been unable to find any reference to it in the literature. I doubt if it is a sculpin, and shall be happy to have an opinion about its identity. |
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| Q 7. | ||
| I would like proof of a hammerhead shark having attacked or killed a person. It does not matter in what body of water, or what particular species of hammerhead shark-anywhere in the world. |
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| Q 8. | ||
| How can I obtain information on shark attacks during 1960? |
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| Q 9. | ||
| Enclosed you will find a newspaper article relative to a fatal shark attack at Port Isabel, Texas, which is essentially correct. Little accurate information as to the incidence of such attacks in the United States and elsewhere is available. Do you have such information or can you tell me who is compiling this type of record? |
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| Q 10. | ||
| The tiny barracudas we sometimes see on the turtlegrass flats - are they the same species as the large barracuda seen on the coral reefs? Also, do barracudas actually attack divers? |
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| Q 11. | ||
| Is there any chance that a large hammerhead shark would try to overturn an inflatable rubber boat? Also, would the sound of a small outboard motor scare a shark away? |
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| Q 12. | ||
| Do you have on record any cases of a person being swallowed by a fish, other than in the Bible? |
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| Q 13. | ||
| What parts of the human body are most likely to be attacked by sharks? |
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| Q 14. | ||
| Are there any authenticated reports of killer whales attacking boats or people? |
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| Q 15. | ||
| International statistics show that more men than women have been attacked by sharks. Is there a scientific explanation for this statistical sex ratio? |
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| Q 16. | ||
| Is there any documented evidence of aggressive behavior toward humans by giant squids? |
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| Q 17. | ||
| I swim and surf in Santa Cruz waters. Is it true that sharks can mistake a person in a wet suit for a seal? |
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| Q 18. | ||
| While diving in waters off Islamorada in the Florida Keys, my wife encountered a large sea turtle that bit off a piece of her swim fin and bit a hole in her nylon jacket. Is this unusual behavior for a turtle? |
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| Q 19. | ||
| An article in my local newspaper suggested that summer shark attacks in our area are due to the female sharks protecting their young. I thought that, at least in some species, shark appetites almost disappear when the females are giving birth. Are sharks more or less aggressive after giving birth? Cape Canaveral, Florida |
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| Q 20. | ||
| Last August, I had an unusual experience while fishing from a boat in waters off Stove Harbor, New Jersey. We were casting into a school of bluefish in 40 feet of water when, suddenly, a 3-foot-long, snakelike object emerged from the water several times. It then hit the boat, breaking the plastic air-vent cover near the bow. Could the strange object have been the tail of a thresher shark? |
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| Q 21. | ||
| How many kinds of sharks are there? Also, how many of them are man-eaters, and which species are the most dangerous? |
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| Q 22. | ||
| Do sharks attack particular colors, like bulls attack the color red? |
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| Q 23. | ||
| Are sharks more likely to attack humans at night than in the daytime? |
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| Q&A 1. | How many species of sharks have been known to attack man? College Park, Maryland |
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| The number of sharks definitely proven to have attacked men are few. The great white shark or man-eater, Carcharodon, the tiger shark, Galeocerdo, and the hammer heads, Sphyrna, are all known to attack swimmers on occasion, as has the remarkable shark, Carcharinus, of Lake Nicaragua. Other sharks which should be regarded with suspicion are the lemon shark, Hypoprion, the great blue shark, Prionace, the mako shark, Isurus, and certain of the larger ground sharks belonging to the genus Carcharchinus and related to the Lake Nicaragua species. An uninjured swimmer may consider himself relatively safe in the water, unless he encounters one of the larger more dangerous species. An injured and bleeding person, on the other hand, is in much greater danger from large and small species alike. An unusual accident involving a student of Marine Biology of the University of Miami occurred in the Florida Keys and was witnessed by several persons. The student was bitten without provocation on the upper part of the thigh by a shark 2l feet in length. Although the shark was not positively identified, it was believed to be a young nurse shark, Ginglymostoma, a species commonly considered as harmless to man. The small wound healed quickly without complications. |
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| Q&A 2. | During a social gathering last week some of my friends began discussing the likelihood of a shark or a barracuda attacking a person in the coastal waters of Florida. Though we all know how dangerous these fishes are, no one could actually cite a positive example of these fish having actually attacked a man locally. Can you tell us if any documented occurrences exist? Miami, Florida |
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| While documented evidences of sharks and barracudas attacking humans in Florida are rare, world wide records prove that many species of sharks and the Great Barracuda, Sphyraena barracuda, will attack and kill people. The man-eater, or great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias, has the greatest appetite, and the tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvier, and the hammerheaded sharks, Sphyrna, are also recorded man attackers. There are records of human fatalities from attacks by the tiger shark in India and Australia, and at least one record of a hammerhead shark attacking a man in Florida waters. A swimmer at Mayport, Florida, was attacked in 1944 by what was tentatively identified as a black tipped shark, Carcharhinus maculipinnis. A University of Miami student was bitten on the leg by unidentified species of shark which was only two and 1/2 feet long. This bite was not serious, but it illustrates the unpredictable aggressive action of sharks. Large or small, sharks should be respected as potential attackers. No documented record is available of an attack on man by a barracuda in Florida, however, in 1924 in the panama Canal Zone a sailor was severely bitten by a large barracuda. This incident was recorded in the journal of the American Medical Association. |
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| Q&A 3. | Could you tell me what fish there is in the sea which is large enough to cut a man's body cleanly in half. The incident to which I refer, happened in the Mediterranean a number of years ago. A diver was diving between the island of Crete and the coast of Africa and on the way to the surface his body was cut cleanly diagonally across the shoulders. I have always wondered what fish was large enough to do this. Nassau. Bahamas |
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| Several marine animals could possibly cut a man in two. The killer whale or Orca could easily do so, and several of the big sharks such as the white shark or man-eater, the mako shark and perhaps the tiger shark. Among the true fishes, a large barracuda could easily cut a man in two in one bite. I have seen a 100 pound amberjack cut off cleanly behind the head by barracudas on several occasions. |
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| Q&A 4. | Some years ago, between the island of Crete and the coast of Africa, a diver was cut cleanly in half across the shoulders. What kind of fish could have done this? Nassau, Bahamas |
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| There are several marine animals capable of severing a human body at one bite. The killer whale, the great white shark, the mako shark and possibly other large sharks such as the tiger shark are most likely. Among the true bony fishes the barracuda has frequently been seen to cut amber-jack of over 100 pounds, cleanly through behind the head. |
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| Q&A 5. | I read recently that a man handling sharks at an aquarium was bitten. Are there any recent records of swimmers who were attacked by sharks in the United States waters? Miami Beach, Florida |
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| During 1952, a swimmer was attacked and killed by a shark in California. The great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) is believed to be the responsible species. In 1950, also in California, a swimmer was attacked and seriously injured by a shark. |
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| Q&A 6. | Recently I read a story about a reef in which a man was seized "in the jaws of one of those accursed sculpins of the deep water, a tonu, ten feet long." I have not heard of this fish before and have been unable to find any reference to it in the literature. I doubt if it is a sculpin, and shall be happy to have an opinion about its identity. Syracuse, New York |
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| You are correct; the fish is not a sculpin. The sculpinS (Family Cottidae) are cold water fishes and neither occur on tropical reefs nor attain large size. In Tahiti and elsewhere in French Oceania, the name "tonu" is applied to Plectropomus leopardus, a serranid fish. This grouper may reach a length of 4 or 5 feet, is fairly slender for a grouper, and is not dangerous to man. Probably, the fish in the story is a giant grouper or sea bass (possibly Epinephelus lanceolatus) which has a mouth large enough to engulf a man and may reach a length of ten feet. Two giant groupers in Tahiti, the "Hapuu" and the "Patui," are feared by the native population. These fishes are rare, but it is possible that the name of the better known fish, "tonu," might erroneously be applied to them. |
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| Q&A 7. | I would like proof of a hammerhead shark having attacked or killed a person. It does not matter in what body of water, or what particular species of hammerhead shark-anywhere in the world. Clearwater Beach, Florida |
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| A hammerhead was implicated in one of the California attacks during the summer of 1959. The attack was not fatal. Because of the peculiar head shape there is little doubt about the identification. Just which hammerhead was involved (there are a number of species) is another matter. Hammerheads are regarded as dangerous on our coast and a number of divers have been bothered. Gudger (1937) reported an attack on Miss Gertrude Holiday, 200 feet from shore at the municipal pier, West Palm Beach, on Sept. 21, 1931 by a hammerhead shark about eight feet long. The victim received serious lacerations (If the right leg but recovered. The lifeguard who saved the victim clearly saw the shark and positively identified it as a hammerhead. During the war Navy personnel witnessed the gruesome inroads of sharks on men in the water following U-boat attacks on convoys. Hammerheads were said to be responsible for most of the damage, although white sharks and blue sharks started the trouble. All the hammerheads, except for the small bonnet shark, should be regarded as dangerous. |
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| Q&A 8. | How can I obtain information on shark attacks during 1960? Jacksonville, Florida |
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| The American Institute of Biological Science has a shark research panel. The files on this committee are maintained at the U.S. National Museum under the direction of the Curator of Fishes, Dr. Leonard Schultz. This group has mimeographed information on advice to various groups of people who frequent or find themselves in shark-infested waters. In addition, this group published in the Journal of Science, Vol. 132, No. 3423, 1960, a summary of shark attacks during 1959 giving details of the individual cases. This panel keeps its list up to date and, no doubt, can give you information on 1960 attacks. |
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| Q&A 9. | Enclosed you will find a newspaper article relative to a fatal shark attack at Port Isabel, Texas, which is essentially correct. Little accurate information as to the incidence of such attacks in the United States and elsewhere is available. Do you have such information or can you tell me who is compiling this type of record? Port Isabel, Texas |
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| The American Institute of Biological Sciences, under the auspices of the U.S. Navy, has for sometime now been compiling records of shark attacks all over the world, through the Shark Research Panel. There are two centers where the files are being kept, one in the U.S. National Museum, Division of Fishes, Washington, D.C., under the direction of Dr. Leonard P. Schultz. The second set of files is being kept by Dr. Perry W. Gilbert, Department of Zoology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. These are actually duplicate sets of information designed to keep as complete a set of authenticated shark attacks as possible, including the species of shark, size, and conditions under which the attack occurred, as well as other related information. Dr. Gilbert has written several papers on this subject and there is a book of considerable importance written by Dr. V.M. Coppleson of Sydney, Australia, entitled, Shark Attack, published by Angus and Robertson, Sydney (1959). |
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| Q&A 10. | The tiny barracudas we sometimes see on the turtlegrass flats - are they the same species as the large barracuda seen on the coral reefs? Also, do barracudas actually attack divers? Miami, Florida |
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| Many species of barracudas are found in tropical waters. The young of the great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) commonly occur in the turtlegrass beds. Only a very few unprovoked attacks by barracudas on swimmers have been recorded. For a discussion of these attacks, as well as other aspects of the biology of barracudas, see Systematics and Life History of the Great Barracuda, by Donald P. de Sylva, available from the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149. Price $7.95 as of 5-9-84. |
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| Q&A 11. | Is there any chance that a large hammerhead shark would try to overturn an inflatable rubber boat? Also, would the sound of a small outboard motor scare a shark away? Fort Lauderdale, Florida |
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| The only shark that is generally known to attack boats is the white shark, Carcharodon carcharias. Probably the greatest danger from any of the large species of hammerheads (Sphyrna spp.) lies in the possibility of one accidentally overturning the boat or scraping against it, and thereby rubbing a hole through the rubber. The chances of it deliberately attacking the boat, especially without the presence of blood in the surrounding water, are few. In regard to the outboard motor, the abrupt increase in volume generated in the initial starting of the outboard might repel the hammerhead temporarily, whereas the ensuing continuous sound would be less effective, as the shark would become accustomed to it. |
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| Q&A 12. | Do you have on record any cases of a person being swallowed by a fish, other than in the Bible? Fruitland, Maryland |
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| The only accounts of fishes swallowing men are unauthenticated stories involving skindivers and giant groupers of the Indo-Pacific. These fish attain a weight of 800 to 1,000 pounds and a maximum length of 12 feet. The Queensland grouper, Epinephelus lanceolatus, has been known to stalk shell divers and rush at them in an apparent attack. We do not know of any similar accounts in the Atlantic species of grouper. Numerous species of sharks, of course, are known to have attacked and eaten man. Theories about the motivations underlying shark attacks are discussed in "An Inquiry into the Causes of Shark Attacks," Sea Frontiers, Vol. 20, No.2, March-April, 1974. |
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| Q&A 13. | What parts of the human body are most likely to be attacked by sharks? Arlington Heights, Illinois |
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| Dr. David Baldridge of the Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida analyzed data from many shark-attack case histories with a computer t program to reveal any correlations between the incidence of shark attacks and, conditions present at the time of attack. Among other things, the analysis showed that sharks primarily direct their attacks to body appendages. The locations of attack wounds were recorded in 835 cases. In 40 percent of the attacks, wounds were inflicted on the calf-knee area; in 33 percent on the thighs; in 23 percent on the arms; in 18 percent on the feet; in 15 percent on the hands; and in 10 percent or less of the attacks, wounds were inflicted on either the buttocks, fingers, toes, abdomen, chest, waist, shoulder, back, genitals, or head. Only in 0.6 percent was the victim's body actually swallowed or presumed swallowed by the shark. Baldridge's report, Shark Attack Against Man: A Program of Data Reduction and Analysis, can be obtained from the Mote Marine Laboratory, 9501 Blind Pass Road, Sarasota, Florida 33581, at a cost of $4.00. |
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| Q&A 14. | Are there any authenticated reports of killer whales attacking boats or people? Portland, Oregon |
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| Killer whales (Orcinus orca) are aggressive marine predators that are known to hunt in packs. They have been reported to attack boats when one or more of the animals in a herd have been injured or harassed, such as during a capture attempt. To the best of our knowledge, however, there has been no confirmed documentation of an unprovoked attack by a killer whale on a man in the wild, although there are numerous reports of encounters between the two (see "The Killer," Sea Frontiers, vol. 9, no. 5, Christmas 1963). In captivity, on the other hand, there are several authenticated reports of killer whales threatening or injuring trainers or other aquarium personnel. The suspected reasons for these incidents are quoted as ranging from playfulness and possible sexual drives to jealousy and protection of pregnant female whales. These theoretical motives are obviously drawn from human emotions; and experiences, and possibly fall into the trap of anthropomorphism. Nevertheless, since killer whales are free-ranging and highly social animals in the wild, their natural behavior is quite possibly affected by the constraints of captivity. Oceanarium trainers have been similarly hurt by captive dolphins from time to time. |
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| Q&A 15. | International statistics show that more men than women have been attacked by sharks. Is there a scientific explanation for this statistical sex ratio? Chula Vista, California |
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| There is no scientifically verified explanation; however, several theories have been put forth. Although men are more often involved in marine activities in general, this fact alone does not explain the statistics, according to Dr. H. David Baldridge, who has carried out a ten-year study of shark attacks. Even when considering only those shark attacks associated with recreational activities - in which there are only slightly more males than females in the water- Baldridge found that the sex ratio of victims was roughly eight males to one female. One possible explanation offered by Baldridge is that men tend to be more active than women when in the water, thus presenting themselves as louder and more visually obvious targets for sharks. Another possibility is that there may be chemical signals produced by humans - perhaps hormonal in nature - which cause men to "smell better" to sharks. This subject is further discussed in Shark Attack by H. David Baldridge (Droke House/Hallus, 1974). |
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| Q&A 16. | Is there any documented evidence of aggressive behavior toward humans by giant squids? Fayetteville, North Carolina |
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| Experts believe that the giant squids in the genus Architeuthis are probably not very aggressive, under normal circumstances. Most of their musculature is not well developed, and they lack the giant nerve fiber that is responsible for rapid concerted movements in other squids. Giant squids, which may reach a length of 60 feet, are not vigorous swimmers. They feed on sedentary or inactive bottom fishes on the continental slopes. However, even a sluggish animal (particularly if large) can be dangerous if attacked. In a number of reported cases, men in small boats have attacked giant squids at the surface and barely escaped serious injury. In contrast to Architeuthis spp., the aggressive nature of other large squids has been documented. One particularly aggressive squid, Dosidicus (formerly Ommastrephes) gigas, found in the Humboldt Current, can reach a length of 12 feet and weigh 300 pounds. It comes to the surface at night, feeding on large fishes, other squids, and sometimes attacking humans. |
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| Q&A 17. | I swim and surf in Santa Cruz waters. Is it true that sharks can mistake a person in a wet suit for a seal? San Jose, California |
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| Maybe. According to Dr. John McCosker, director of the Steinhart Aquarium, the silhouette of a surfer paddling a surfboard is quite similar to that of a seal, seen from below. From 1972 to 1983, during which time surfers adopted short, seal-shaped surfboards, 13 attacks on surfers by sharks were reported in northern California and Oregon. During the same time period, the California seal population greatly increased, with a comparable increase in sightings by scientists at the Farallon Islands of predator white sharks. Prior to 1972 there were no reported attacks on board riders in this area. In a 1973 technical report to the U.S. Navy, Dr. H. David Baldridge recommends that divers use discretion in the choice of wet-suit colors in terms of conditions and sea life prevalent in the waters of intended operations. He warns: "Do not take a chance on being mistaken for the areas natural prey of choice"-which in California includes seals. In a study by Dr. Samuel H. Gruber of the University of Miami, sharks showed a preference for bright colors such as those used in yellow and orange life vests. Baldridge's report suggests that swimmers select “other than extremely bright colors for swim wear.” The general consensus of opinion is to avoid making yourself conspicuous by sight, odor, or activity to sharks and to avoid areas where sharks are seen or suspected to be present. |
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| Q&A 18. | While diving in waters off Islamorada in the Florida Keys, my wife encountered a large sea turtle that bit off a piece of her swim fin and bit a hole in her nylon jacket. Is this unusual behavior for a turtle? Miami, Florida |
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| Yes-but it is not unheard-of behavior: For example, in waters off Key Largo, Florida in April 1972, Mary Manser of Geneva, Ohio was seriously bitten by a loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta). Noted turtle authority Dr. Archie Carr of the University of Florida explained the behavior as a case of mistaken identity by an overzealous turtle during mating season. It is also known that sea turtles in search of food will bite almost anything that moves. In fact, there are even reports that, on occasion, sea turtles have bitten through lines feeding compressed air to hardhat divers. |
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| Q&A 19. | An article in my local newspaper suggested that summer shark attacks in our area are due to the female sharks protecting their young. I thought that, at least in some species, shark appetites almost disappear when the females are giving birth. Are sharks more or less aggressive after giving birth? Cape Canaveral, Florida |
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| There is no evidence that sharks are more aggressive in order to defend their young. In fact, sharks display almost no parental care at all. The fact that some shark species show a feeding inhibition while in nursery areas cannot be generalized to all species in all areas. Some shark species seem to be aggressive even in nursery areas, but they are not more aggressive than normal and are not defending their young. In summer, there are simply more sharks interacting with people in shallow water than at other times of the year. Thus, if the shallow-water nursery area used by sharks coincides with an area used by beachgoers, the possibility of attack increases as sharks and people share the same site. |
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| Q&A 20. | Last August, I had an unusual experience while fishing from a boat in waters off Stove Harbor, New Jersey. We were casting into a school of bluefish in 40 feet of water when, suddenly, a 3-foot-long, snakelike object emerged from the water several times. It then hit the boat, breaking the plastic air-vent cover near the bow. Could the strange object have been the tail of a thresher shark? Vero Beach, Florida |
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| Yes. What you saw could have been the tail of the thresher shark (AliJpias vulpinus). Along the U.S. Atlantic seaboard, this shark ranges from Gulf of Saint Lawrence sharks to Florida but it is most common in offshore and cold inshore waters off southern New England in summer. It feeds mainly on small schooling fishes, such as the bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix), which it stuns with blows from its long, powerful tail. The length of an adult thresher shark can range from 10 to 20 feet, with the tail making up half this length. The thresher shark has been implicated in two boat attacks, according to The Sharks of North American Waters (Texas A&M University Press, 1983). A related shark, the bigeye thresher (Alopias superciliosus), also uses its long tail specifically for killing its prey-squid; see "The Bigeye Thresher Shark," Sea Frontiers, September-October 1980. |
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| Q&A 21. | How many kinds of sharks are there? Also, how many of them are man-eaters, and which species are the most dangerous? Suriname, South America |
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| There are about 350 different species of sharks. Of these 350, only about 12 to 20 are known to attack humans. The three most dangerous are the white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) and the bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas). Even these sharks are not man-eaters in the sense used to refer to man-eating tigers and lions which, through injuries or age, are no longer able to catch their normal prey or, once having tasted human flesh, develop a taste for it. It is doubtful if this occurs with sharks. |
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| Q&A 22. | Do sharks attack particular colors, like bulls attack the color red? Cleveland, Tennessee |
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| Sharks do not attack colors. Neither do bulls, which are color-blind. The bullfighter's cape is red to minimize the sight of blood stains and to enhance the spectacle. Bulls charge the moving cape even when the inverted-yellow inside is seen. Sharks seem to attack highly contrasting items such as shiny objects and bright colors. Some colors contrast more with the ocean than others and, in experiments in which contrast is not controlled, it appears that sharks attack certain colors. For example, because sharks do attack bright yellow objects, the color of life jackets has been called "yum-yum yellow." It appears, however, that it is the contrast, not the color yellow, that affects the probability of attack and, ironically, the same contrast is important in attracting the attention of potential rescuers. |
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| Q&A 23. | Are sharks more likely to attack humans at night than in the daytime? Kilmarnock, Virginia |
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| Yes. In spite of the lack of evidence for more-frequent attacks at night, knowledge of shark behavior makes it safe to assume that the risk increases at that time. So few swimmers and divers enter the water at night compared with the daytime, however, that it becomes difficult to compare attacks during dark and light periods. Sharks that attack humans change their behavior as dusk approaches. Observations of sharks in captivity and radio-tracking studies in the wild show that during dark periods, sharks swim greater distances, moving more actively. Numbers of sharks' favorite prey, especially fishes, increase in near-shore shallow and offshore surface waters as night approaches. This factor relates to a nighttime increase in sharks' hunting activities, during which they may take advantage of the absence of light to approach their prey. George Burgess, curator of the International Shark Attack File at the University of Florida in Gainesville, places shark attacks in three categories. He says 89 percent of those in Florida waters are "hit-and- run" attacks that occur in the surf zone and involve swimmers or surfers whom a shark mistakes for its prey. The shark bites or slashes the victim once, then lets go. Burgess gives "bump and bite" as the second attack category, which includes about 15 percent of those occurring off Florida. These deadly attacks take place in deeper water: The shark circles the victim for some time, then closes in and bumps against the individual, and then attacks repeatedly. Burgess's last category records provoked attacks, some quite vicious, that people brought on themselves by chasing, grabbing, or otherwise abusing sharks. Simple rules reduce the chances of shark attack: Swim in a group: don't swim at dawn, dusk, or after dark; don't enter the water when bleeding: don't wear bright clothing or jewelry; don’t swim where fishing takes place or near seal or sea-lion rookeries; be cautious near drop-offs and between sandbars; avoid splashing; don’t ever provoke a shark. |
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Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science Library
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