Figure 1.
Map showing the locations of elasmobranch carcasses (inset) observed on the Angola continental margin.
Table 1.
Details of carcasses encountered on the Angola continental margin.
Table 2.
Fauna observed at elasmobranch carcasses.
Figure 2.
Still images showing each of the observed carcasses.
A Whale shark (Rhincodon typus); B Mobulid carcass 1; C Mobulid carcass 2; D Mobulid Carcass 3. Images have been enhanced. Originals and details of enhancements are available in Figure S1.
Figure 3.
Relationship between carcass mass and the rate at which it is scavenged, based on a global dataset comprising different carcass types: •mammal; ▪ teleost; ⧫ elasmobranch; ▴ squid.
A logarithmic regression (solid black line defined by the equation) y = 4.345ln(x) − 3.222)explained a significant proportion of the variance in the relationship; R2 = 0.84, F(1,30) = 154.6, p <0.001. Data and references are presented in Dataset S1. Areas highlighted in turquoise indicate possible range in mass of the mobulid carcasses (left) and whale shark carcass (right). Corresponding dashed gray lines show best estimate for the mass of each carcass type and hence scavenging rate according to the regression equation.