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by MP1116 on February 1st, 2004
Yes, sharks can jump out of the water, but very, very few species actually do. In fact, the only two species known to agressively jump out of water are Mako, and more recently, Great White Sharks.
Mako sharks tend to leap out of the water, sometimes up to 20 feet in the air. This is not a sign of attack or aggression; it is actually just an attempt for the shark to shake off parasites. Other research suggests that this behavior is an attempt to disorient fish. Much like the Thresher Shark uses its tremendous tail fin to whip and distract fish, it is beleived by some that the Mako propels itself at very high speed through the school of fish, and then splashes back down into them in an effort to confuse them, making them easy to eat. However, this is only theory, and other than shaking off parasites, the leaping of Mako sharks out of the water is not for any other reason.
More recently, scientists have observed this behavior in Great Whites, but for an entirely different reason: it is a feeding habit. This is an awe-inspiring, yet incredibly frightening sight to behold. The sharks have been observed jumping over 10 feet high, and covering a distance from 15 to 20 feet. Strangely enough, this behavior only occurs along a certain stretch of I beleive African continental coastline, leading scientists to beleive that it may be a slightly different breed of Great White. This is a clearly agressive behavior, often demonstrated when the sharks are in frenzy. This breaching behavior has been observed mostly while the Whites were feeding on seals and other familiar prey. It has never been recorded during shark attacks on humans, and is a behavior that is not often observed outside of the stretch of Coastline where it was first observed.
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Comments
I saw a Grey Nurse take a fish in the air, but it didn't get its whole body out of the water.
by mungobaby on January 17th, 2005
Give you useful, but they breach anywhere that there is fast moving prey on the surface and it is not a different breed.
by Anonymous on August 5th, 2005