RIPPED and battered, these sharks look like they are sporting battle scars — but the reality is a little more disturbing.

       The real reason for the bite marks is male sharks have forcefully had sex with the female of the species.

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       This shark clearly has been bitten by another beast Credit: Jalil Najafov 4

       Scientists think these are so-called 'mating scars' Credit: Jalil Najafov

       Incredible photos and videos lay bare the wounds inflicted on females as hulking male beasts sink their jaws into its flesh.

       In one clip, scars were positioned over the shark's gills.

       The filmmaker who captured the image, Jalil Najafov, from Azerbaijan, suggested it might well be the result of "coercive mating".

       Posting the footage on his Instagram page this morning, he wrote: "On rare occasions, during mating season among sharks, 'mating scars' appear on female sharks' bodies caused by the males holding onto them.

       "These scars are mostly deeper cuts and punctures, indicating a more forceful motivation such as coercive mating from the male's side."

       Most shark species have never been seen mating in the wild.

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       But scientists have carried out studies exploring the possibility that sharks may engage in “coercive mating” which leaves both male and females wounded.

       The fascinating insight comes as the world's toughest great white shark — dubbed Brutus — was seen flashing his battle scars as he hunted his prey off the coast of Mexico.

       The 1,500-pound beast was seen baring his ferocious teeth at the camera in a series of stunning images snapped in the waters off Guadalupe Island.

       Another incredible picture showed the grizzled brute sinking his six-inch teeth into bait.

       The snaps were taken by Euan Rannachan, 36, a London-born photographer who adores sharks – even running a cage-diving experience called Be a Shark.

       What is coercive mating?

       Marine scientists Erich K Ritter and Raid W Amin, from the University of West Florida, found that on rare occasions, during mating season among sharks, “mating scars” appear on female sharks’ bodies caused by the males holding onto them.

       But they said the fact that not all of the beasts bore the wounds suggested these were not part of regular mating efforts.

       They noted the scars were mostly deeper cuts and punctures and therefore indicating a more forceful motivation such as coercive mating from the male’s side.

       It was believed that during mating in most shark species, the male uses its jaws to grab the female in or around the gill or pectoral fin area to hold on during copulation.

       It's during the act of grabbing with the jaws the females can get injured and scarred.

       Dr Ritter said: "Since these scars are the exception to the rule, most of the time male sharks grasp females carefully.

       “Although we had to highlight that rape exists in sharks, it overall tells the story that sharks are normally not as brutal when reproducing as previously thought."

       Euan captured the underwater shots of Brutus from the relative safety of a cage.

       He said: “We had an incredible season out at Guadalupe Island this year, with many active sharks.

       "Probably the most active of them all was Brutus. On this particular day, he had started out investigating the bait we had out but wasn’t that interested.

       “Then, out of nowhere, a sealion showed up and started taunting him by swimming around him in circles and biting his caudal fin.

       “You could see his mood change quickly and he soon was trying to take his frustrations out on the bait."

       Great white sharks are carnivorous - with their diets consisting of various fish, turtles, dolphins and sealions.

       But the species is now classed as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature due to over fishing.

       Euan said: "I used Brutus’s frustration to my advantage and realised that I could guess when he would open his mouth and get myself into position to take the photo.

       “I’m glad I did, because only seconds later, he attacked the bait right in front of me multiple times – and I had a front row seat."

       It comes after a researcher spotted a shark still hunting for its prey - despite being “half-eaten".

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       The 1,500-pound beast was seen baring his ferocious teeth at the camera Credit: mediadrumworld.com/@euanart 4

       Photographer Euan Rannachan captured the underwater shots from the relative safety of a cage Credit: mediadrumworld.com/@euanart

       World’s toughest great white shark dubbed Brutus shows off battle scars as beast hunts prey