Whale shark mating behaviour recorded at Ningaloo Reef

Researchers have recorded whale shark mating behavior at Ningaloo Reef in Australia. They observed a male whale shark chasing a smaller female and attempting to bite her tail fin. This behavior, known as ‘pre-copulatory’ biting, suggests a courtship ritual. Very little is known about whale shark mating, making this observation significant. While the sharks exhibited mating behaviors, the female appeared to resist the male’s advances, indicating that successful mating may not have occurred.