Overview

• University of the Sunshine Coast marine biologist Hugo Lassauce recorded two males mating sequentially with a female during a snorkel survey at Abore Reef near Nouméa.
• The full sequence lasted about 110 seconds, with one male mating for 63 seconds and the other for 47, after which both males lay immobile on the seafloor as the female swam away.
• The observation, presented in the Journal of Ethology, is the first scientifically documented wild mating sequence for the species.
• UniSC researchers say the site appears to be a critical breeding habitat, offering data to guide management priorities, genetic studies, and assisted reproduction efforts.
• The finding supports broader work, including the ReShark collective, to inform reintroduction and population recovery for the IUCN-listed endangered species across the Indo-West Pacific.