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A review of tonic immobility as an adaptive behavior in sharks

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Abstract

Tonic immobility remains one of the least understood behaviors in nature. Despite this, the behavior has been described in a diversity of species across the animal kingdom. Tonic immobility has been observed in sharks and rays both in the laboratory and field. However, actual scientific studies of tonic immobility have been completed on only a few species of elasmobranchs. The behavior is frequently induced by handling an animal in a certain way rather than utilizing chemical anesthesia in order to assess body condition and implant electronic tracking devices. This behavior functions as (1) an innate defensive passive response against a predatory attack, (2) a component of courtship and copulation, and (3) a protective mechanism limiting the effect of overwhelming sensory stimulation. We present a review of the behavioral, physiological, and neurological processes that result in tonic immobility in sharks, and compare this information to the processes of tonic immobility that are better understood in mammals.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful for the funds provided by the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (SIP 20210587). EMHP and AMP are fellows of SNI (CONACYT) Mexico. Authors thanks to Dr. Priscila Vázquez-León for the supplied material, and the anonymous reviewers whose comments allow improve the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Fisiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Wilfrido Massieu Esq. Manuel Stampa S/N Col. Nueva Industrial Vallejo, Alcaldía Gustavo A. Madero, 07738, Mexico City, Mexico

    Abraham Miranda Páez

  2. Pelagios Kakunjá A.C., La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico

    Edgar Mauricio Hoyos Padilla

  3. Fins Attached Marine Research and Conservation, Colorado Springs, CO, USA

    Edgar Mauricio Hoyos Padilla

  4. Department of Wildlife, Fish, & Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    A. Peter Klimley

  5. Biotelemetric Consultants, 2870 Eastman Lane, Petaluma, CA, 94954, USA

    A. Peter Klimley

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  1. Abraham Miranda Páez
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  2. Edgar Mauricio Hoyos Padilla
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  3. A. Peter Klimley
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All authors have been involved throughout the review and participated significantly to the writing. Specifically: conceived and designed the review and wrote the paper: AMP; corrected and edited the manuscript: MHP; wrote and edited extensively the manuscript: APK.

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Correspondence to A. Peter Klimley.

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Páez, A.M., Padilla, E.M.H. & Klimley, A.P. A review of tonic immobility as an adaptive behavior in sharks. Environ Biol Fish 106, 1455–1462 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-023-01413-1

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