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Sharks and Rays Leap: Unraveling the Mystery Behind Breaching

2/11/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Sharks and rays leap from the depths for a variety of reasons—shedding pesky parasites, dodging predators, hunting for food, or even courting a mate. Researchers, armed with drones and data loggers, have uncovered that basking sharks often breach to rid themselves of parasites. Yet, the mystery remains: what are the energy costs and purposes behind this captivating behavior across different species?

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Story summary

Sharks and rays leap from the depths for a variety of reasons—shedding pesky parasites, dodging predators, hunting for food, or even courting a mate. Researchers, armed with drones and data loggers, have uncovered that basking sharks often breach to rid themselves of parasites. Yet, the mystery remains: what are the energy costs and purposes behind this captivating behavior across different species?