What hypothesis attempts to explain why most unprovoked great white bites result in the shark immediately releasing the human victim?

Answer

Mistaken identity, where the shark confuses a silhouetted surfer or swimmer for a seal or sea lion

A primary hypothesis explaining why the majority of unprovoked great white bites do not result in sustained predatory attacks is the concept of mistaken identity. Sharks, which may lack fine visual acuity or color vision, might confuse the silhouette of a surfer paddling on a board or a swimmer near the surface with their primary high-fat prey items, such as seals or sea lions. The initial bite is often exploratory or investigative rather than predatory. A related theory suggests the shark is simply tasting the novel object to determine its edibility. The shark typically releases the object after this initial exploratory action, realizing it is not the expected prey item.

What hypothesis attempts to explain why most unprovoked great white bites result in the shark immediately releasing the human victim?

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