Enormous Shark Swallows Another in First-Ever Recorded Attack

Researchers have documented the first known instance of a porbeagle shark being preyed upon by another shark. The discovery was made after a pregnant porbeagle shark, tagged off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, was found dead near Bermuda. This event marks the first recorded predation of this species anywhere in the world. The study, published in Frontiers in Marine Science, involved tagging the shark in October 2020 with a satellite transmitter and a pop-off satellite archival tag (PSAT). The tags recorded data on the shark's movements until they detached and surfaced.

The shark's unusual movement and temperature data suggested it had been eaten by a larger predator, likely a great white shark or a shortfin mako. This incident raises concerns for the endangered porbeagle population, which is already vulnerable due to overfishing and habitat loss. The study highlights the complexity of predator interactions in the ocean and could have implications for conservation strategies. Researchers emphasized the need for further investigation into shark predation patterns to better understand the ecological dynamics and support the recovery of endangered species.