Forschung

Chaffing

Initial position:

Sharksucker often stick themselves on sharks in areas, which are sensible from either sensory  or hydrodynamic point of view. As both forms of sensibility have consequences for sharks, they often try to get rid of the sharksuckers. They do this either by wrenching, or, if not successful, by jumping out of the water with subsequent splashing back on the water with the body part first, where the sharksuccker is. Another way of getting rid of sharksuckers is “Chaffing”, winding the body, bringing the area where the sharksucker is in touch with the ground. More than 70 different “Chaffings” have been observed so far. These include anything from very simple touching of the ground to extremely complex wrenching.

Target

Categorize the different types of “Chaffings”

Species observed

Caribbean Reef Shark (Carchahinus perezi)

Timeframe

Open, as more “Chaffing”-observations need to be collected, first results to be expected in spring 2007

Benefit for people

The general opinion, according to which back arching sharks are on the verge of attacking still exists. Extensive research work with subsequent prove that Chaffing is not threatening, but an attempt to get rid of sharksuckers can further reduce fears from sharks.

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