The sharks are approaching the whale shark to rub their backs

Silk sharks use thick and rough skin of whale sharks to remove parasites and dead skin.

Scientists from the Galapagos Whale Shark Project team (GWSP) use cameras on whale shark fins to capture the interesting sight among sharks in the waters of the Galapagos Islands, the Pacific Ocean, Earth Touch News on February 21 reported. In the video, smaller silk sharks are alternating rubbing against the whale shark.

"The Galapagos Islands are a special place to study whale sharks. Unlike other places, here we come across many large female sharks, seemingly pregnant. It is important to study them. "This work is progressing , " the GWSP team representative said.

The most suitable explanation for the behavior of silk sharks is that they are using whale sharks as a loofah. Shark skin is covered with thousands of teeth-like scales called dermal teeth and they are very rough when rubbed in the opposite direction. Such rubbing can help silk sharks eliminate parasites and dead skin.

Photographer Thomas P. Peschak also encountered this behavior of sharks in the Galapagos archipelago. Elsewhere in the world, there are some fish species that also take advantage of shark skin to remove dead skin.

The behavior of silk sharks is that they are using whale sharks as a loofah.

"It seems that whale sharks don't mind," commented the GWSP team. The reason may be that they own skin up to 10cm thick, one of the strongest skin in the animal world.

is the largest shark in the ocean, can be more than 10 meters long. Despite its size, whale sharks still have some natural enemies such as killer whales and white sharks. Therefore, they need a strong skin to protect the body.