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Table 1 Summary of whale shark tracks

From: Simple criteria to determine detachment point of towed satellite tags provide first evidence of return migrations of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) at the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Shark identification

WS-1

WS-2

WS-3

WS-4

Date tagged

8 July 20111

8 September 2011

5 September 2012

6 September 2012

Estimated total length (m)

9.0

10.0

5.6

11.2

Track length (days)

167

38

31

48

Tag type

SPOT-5

SPOT-5

SPOT-5

SPLASH

Criteria (ranked)

Estimated detachment date

1. Transmission times

24 December 2011

16 October 2011

7 October 2012

25 October 2012

2. Transmission qualities

24 December 2011

15 October 2011

6 October 2012

23 October 2012

3. Depth/temperature

unclear

15 October 2011

6 October 2012

13 October 2012

4. Tracks

24 December 2011

15 October 2011

6 October 2012

23 October 2012

  1. All sharks were female. Track lengths (number of days from tagging to last known detection while still attached) estimated using criteria ranked in importance below. Tags continued to transmit while floating, beyond the length of the shark track.