| Title: |
The ‘Mistaken Identity Hypothesis’ for shark bites on humans is an anthropomorphic fallacy |
| Authors: |
Clua, Eric, E G; Meyer, Carl, G |
| Contributors: |
Centre de recherches insulaires et observatoire de l'environnement (CRIOBE); Université de Perpignan Via Domitia (UPVD)-École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE); Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL)-Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS); Laboratoire d'Excellence CORAIL (LabEX CORAIL); Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Université des Antilles et de la Guyane (UAG)-École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS)-École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE); Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL)-Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL)-Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER)-Université de La Réunion (UR)-Université de la Polynésie Française (UPF)-Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie (UNC)-Institut d'écologie et environnement-Université des Antilles (UA); Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB); ANR-21-CE03-0004,ETHO-PREDATOR,CONFLITS ENTRE GRANDS PREDATEURS MARINS ET HUMAINS: LA GENESE ET GESTION DES INDIVIDUS A PROBLEMES(2021) |
| Source: |
ISSN: 0005-7959. |
| Publisher Information: |
CCSD; Brill Academic Publishers |
| Publication Year: |
2023 |
| Collection: |
Université de la Polynésie française (upf): HAL |
| Subject Terms: |
shark senses; shark behaviour; shark attacks; predation strike; investigation exploration process; bite motivation; [SDV.BA]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Animal biology |
| Description: |
International audience ; The Mistaken Identity Hypothesis (MIH) interprets shark bites on surfers, swimmers and snorkelers as 'mistakes' stemming primarily from similarities in the visual appearance of ocean users and the sharks typical prey. MIH is now widely accepted as fact by the general public and some sections of the scientific community despite remaining unproven. This hypothesis assumes that 'mistaken' shark bites on humans result primarily from confusing visual cues and ignores the important role of other senses (e.g. hearing) in discriminating potential prey. A far simpler 'natural exploration' hypothesis can reasonably explain not only shark bites that have been characterized as 'mistaken identity' events but also those that cannot be reasonably explained by MIH (e.g. shark bites that occur in very clear water). Simply stated, sharks don't make 'mistakes' but instead continually explore their environments and routinely investigate novel objects as potential prey by biting them. |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| Language: |
English |
| DOI: |
10.1163/1568539x-bja10196 |
| Availability: |
https://univ-perp.hal.science/hal-04145862; https://univ-perp.hal.science/hal-04145862v1/document; https://univ-perp.hal.science/hal-04145862v1/file/beh-article-10.1163-1568539X-bja10196.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1163/1568539x-bja10196 |
| Rights: |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ ; info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.77DC3F77 |
| Database: |
BASE |