First wild observations of intestinal eversion by whale sharks, Rhincodon typus, in Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi
Field observations of brief behaviours, including intestinal eversion, are rare in wide-ranging marine species such as whale sharks. This behaviour, in which part of the intestine is temporarily pushed outside the body, was documented in two independent observations that appear to be the first published records in free-ranging whale sharks. These observations add to the limited evidence of this poorly understood behaviour in sharks and rays, highlighting gaps in our knowledge of their basic biology. Photograph by (a) Maria Harvey and (b) Zachary Craig.
Authors
- Gonzalo Araújo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4708-3638)
- Stacia D. Marcoux (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4991-1548)
- Keelee J. Martin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-3636-0485)
- Zachary Craig (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8665-064X)
- Maria Harvey (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5216-5286)
- Nathan Hayes
- Brianna Phillips
Institutions
- University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (US)
- University of Hawaii System (US)
- Department of Land and Natural Resources (US)
- Hawai'i Division of Aquatic Resources (US)
- Qatar University (QA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Pacific Conservation Biology
- Published
- 2026-11-02
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1071/pc26078
- Primary Topic
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00