Predation by white sharks Carcharodon carcharias (Chondrichthyes : Lamnidae) upon chelonians, with new records from the Mediterranean Sea and a firstrecord of the ocean sunfish Mola mola (Osteichthyes : Molidae) as stomach contents

The occurrence of marine turtles in the diet of white sharks, Carcharodon c archarias, is reviewed worldwide. Four records of chelonians eaten by white sharks in the Mediterranean Sea are described, which on the basis of carap ace remnants confirmed both the loggerhead Caretta caretta and green turtle Chelonia mydas to be preyed upon in those waters. The condition of these r emains indicates that large white sharks can ingest turtles essentially int act. As well as falling prey to white sharks, we suspect that some interact ions involve turtles being 'grab-released' in a non-predatory mannner and t heir survivability from such low-intensity bites or other mouthings may be quite high. The white shark may be the chief marine predator of adult chelo nians in the Mediterranean Sea, albeit the impact of this predation upon tu rtle populations is nominal compared to other sources of mortality. Further , we give an account describing an adult ocean sunfish, Mola mola, in the s tomach of a white shark taken in Italian waters.