"Mysterious Gathering of Female Hammerhead Sharks in French Polynesia: A Lunar Phenomenon"
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Livescience.com
Female great hammerhead sharks have been gathering in French Polynesia every summer for over a decade, with numbers peaking around the full moon. Researchers recorded 54 female sharks and one of undetermined sex in the summers of 2020 and 2021. The sharks gather around openings in two neighboring atolls, Rangiroa and Tikehau, indicating the area is an aggregation site. The sharks are likely drawn to the area by external factors linked to the lunar cycle and the presence of ocellated eagle rays. The number of sharks peaked shortly before and after a full moon, possibly due to increased moonlight enhancing their hunting abilities. The researchers are investigating whether the atolls serve as nursery grounds for great hammerhead sharks.