Grey reef sharks are social and like to make friend-groups

26 Aug 2020

Grey reef sharks are social and like to make friend-groups

Grey reef sharks are social and like to make friend-groupsMost sharks are not social animals and usually prefer to spend most of their time alone.

However, a new study has found that grey reef sharks may be slightly different. They have been found to be social. They 'hang out' in groups, even over many years.

Grey reef sharks are commonly found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. They are dark grey on top and paler below. Adults can reach about 2 metres in length and they mostly feed on fishes.

What does the study say?

This study was conducted on 41 grey reef sharks living in the Palmyra Atoll (coral reef) in the Pacific Ocean.

Scientists attached tracking devices to the sharks and studied their movement for four years.

Grey reef sharks mostly hunt at night in groups. The tracking devices showed that the sharks' group members remained almost the same, year after year.

It means they had a preference to roam about with the same individuals and can most likely recognise each other.

However, while they are social, they do not form emotional bonds with each other (unlike humans and some animals). They most likely hunt together as it makes hunting easier.

Here is a video on grey reef sharks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvHe_oWMKSg

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