Was a common porbeagle shark consumed by a larger shark? This unexpected incident is intriguing researchers. This rare case highlights the complexity of interactions between large marine predators.
It all began off the coast of Bermuda with the mysterious disappearance of a pregnant female porbeagle shark being monitored by scientists via a satellite tag. This species, known as
Lamna nasus, is famed for its formidable hunting abilities and long lifespan. However, its predation by an even larger shark has just been documented for the first time.
Illustration image Pixabay
Data collected by the tracking tag revealed unexpected anomalies in water temperature and depth, leading researchers to an unforeseen conclusion: the female porbeagle was likely swallowed by a larger predator. The tag, which was supposed to detach after a year, transmitted higher than expected temperatures, suggesting it was inside the stomach of another animal.
According to the research team, the predator responsible might be a great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) or a mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus), both capable of preying on smaller sharks. Great whites, in particular, seem more likely to be involved due to the dive patterns recorded by the tag.
This surprising discovery challenges the notion that porbeagle sharks are safe from predators. Victims of overfishing and already classified as vulnerable by the IUCN, these new data raise concerns about their long-term survival. For researchers, this first evidence of predation on a common porbeagle shark is crucial. It shows that the food chain among large marine predators is more complex than previously thought.
The loss of this pregnant female is especially significant as it jeopardizes not only the immediate future of her offspring but also that of the entire population of common porbeagle sharks. Scientists are calling for increased monitoring of these species to understand the scale of this phenomenon and its impact on their conservation.
Brooke Anderson, a marine biologist, believes it is necessary to continue tagging and tracking these sharks to assess the frequency of such predation. In the absence of new data, it is difficult to evaluate the actual impact on this already vulnerable population.
Article Author: Cédric DEPOND