Whale sharks can recover from serious injuries at an “extraordinary rate” and even regrow partially removed dorsal fins, a new study has found.
The research, published in the journal Conservation Physiology, shows that the world’s largest fish can recover from lacerations and abrasions, often caused by collisions with boats, in a matter of weeks.
Lead author Freya Womersley, a PhD student with the University of Southampton based at the Marine Biological Association, UK, said that the endangered whale shark, which can reach lengths of 18 metres, faces increased contact with boats as the wildlife tourism sector increases.
She explained the research used the sea creature’s unique spot markings to monitor through photographs the speed of healing from injury.
A new study has for the first time explored the extraordinary rate at which the world s largest fish, the endangered whale shark, can recover from its injuries. The findings reveal that lacerations and abrasions, increasingly caused through collisions with boats, can heal in a matter of weeks and researchers found evidence of partially removed dorsal fins re-growing.