Honu vs Niuhi

[Eric1600]

Putting that shell to use for 130 million years

https://www.instagram.com/p/BUDwSVxAHzj/

[birdmove]

Very cool!! Thanks for that.

Jon in Keaau/HPP

[terracore]

Interesting how the turtle moved it's body to maximize it's shell defenses. I wonder if that is learned behavior or instinct? Great video, thanks for sharing.

[Eric1600]

I think it stays on the surface to reduce the possible angles of attack, then it swims towards the tail so the shark is required to turn which helps the honu further limit the possible angles of attack. Then he watches for the attack in order to rotate the shell to the right spot.

Probably an instinct. I've also seen dolphins attack turtles for fun and toss them 200+ feet with their tails, so I assume turtles have had to try to fend off other creatures for a long time and sharks and turtles evolved 100's of millions of years or so ago so they are old frienemies.

[bystander]

http://punaweb.org/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17857

This honu wasn't so skilled. Maybe it is a learned behavior or else this guy would have got away too?

[Eric1600]

That assumes all turtles would have a 100% success rate.

Learned behavior requires a teacher. Turtles are born fending for themselves and live fairly solitary lives in the ocean.