Massive Sharks Eating Each Other Uncovered
A group of scientists uncovered a shocking case of shark-on-shark violence in the waters of Bermuda.
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The researchers were able to determine the details of the death of a pregnant female shark, which was killed by another shark, thanks to a GPS satellite tracking device she was fitted with, which revealed unusual temperature readings.
Marine biologist Brooke Anderson from Arizona State University told ScienceAlert: “I couldn’t believe it when I got the data from the pregnant porbeagle shark’s satellite tracking device.”
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She added: “I tried to think of alternative explanations for the temperature spike at depth, but all the evidence pointed to the same conclusion… The pregnant porbeagle shark was eaten by a larger shark.”
Porbeagle sharks (Lamna nasus) are large sharks widely distributed around the world, but their numbers are in alarming decline, according to scientists. Porbeagles are a common target for recreational fishing and are also hunted commercially, but now it seems they fall prey to other sharks as well.
According to scientists, these sharks can grow up to 3.7 meters in length, weigh up to 230 kilograms, and live for several decades. Like other mackerel sharks, they are ovoviviparous, meaning their young first develop in eggs inside the mother before hatching, while still in the womb, to complete gestation. The pups are born alive after around eight or nine months.
Anderson explained: “It’s highly unlikely that the temperature rise was due to the shark moving into warmer waters based on all the other data we have, such as the change in diving behavior and the premature release of the satellite tag. Plus, we didn’t receive any more locations from the satellite tag attached to the fin.”
