A tiger shark spewed out an unexpected symbol of Australia right in front of astonished biologists.
tiger shark (Galeocerdo Cuvier) Not exactly a picky eater. They are known to bite seabirds. different sharksNot only people, but also tires, license plates, and even small TVs.
But one of these marine predators just couldn’t swallow the sharp, short-beaked echidna. (Tachyglossus aculeatus).
The incident was recorded off the coast of Orpheus Island in northern Queensland, where researchers will catch and tag the shark in 2022 as part of a three-year project.
Nicolas Lubitz, a marine biologist at Australia’s James Cook University, captured the incredible moment a 3-metre-long shark spat out its spiny breakfast.
“It was an intact echidna, with all its spines and legs intact.” Lubitz Called.
“I only got one picture, but you can see the outline of an echidna in the water.”
Lubitz suspects these spiky spurts are the result of a combination of stress and indigestion.
“That happens very rarely. [tiger sharks] “I throw up my food, but sometimes I vomit when I’m stressed.” Lubitz Called.
“In this case, I think the echidna was feeling a little strange in its throat.”
Echidnas are known to occasionally swim, perhaps pushing their small snout out of the water like a snorkel to keep cool. However, most sightings have been in streams, lakes, rivers, and swimming pools. Rarely in the sea.
So it’s quite surprising that sometimes they can paddle out far enough from shore to be shark bait.
Queensland echidnas have been seen swimming between the mainland and nearby islands. still pretty unusual.
Lubitz said the unlucky echidna may have been swimming in the shallows off the island or between nearby islands in search of food or a mate when it was snatched up by the shark.
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Because the dead echidna’s carcass was still intact when it was regurgitated, Lubitz suspects it was a recent kill in which the shark did not begin digesting the team’s bait before eating it.
“Tiger sharks are known to eat anything. They’re just scavengers. I’ve seen videos of them eating rocks for no reason.” Lubitz Called.
Although echidnas clearly take the top spot as the most prickly prey, the team observed another bizarre shark vom on a separate occasion during their time at sea. This time the tiger shark disgorged half a dugong.
“It threw up a big piece of fat and then a whole vertebrae. I think it was the dugong calf that played a part.” Lubitz Called.
Both sharks appeared to have recovered after being refluxed and were equipped with acoustic trackers before moving on.
It is expected that the tracker will provide scientists with data on the sharks’ movements for 10 years.
To date, 812 animals have been tagged as part of the Queensland Array project, including the critically endangered eastern shovel ray. (Apychotrema rostrata), also known as guitarfish.
