Researchers were shocked to discover that a gigantic porbeagle shark had been devoured by an even larger great white shark, marking the first known predation of an adult porbeagle. The porbeagle was fitted with tracking devices, one of which eventually surfaced after the shark went missing, providing clues to its fate. The recovered data suggested that the porbeagle was likely eaten by a predator, and the researchers were able to piece together the hypothetical demise of the shark based on location, temperature, and depth data received from the tags.
Porbeagle sharks are large-bodied predators that resemble a mix between a great white and a short-fin mako. They are known to hunt fish such as mackerel, cod, and haddock, with some individuals exceeding three meters in length. The fact that a shark of such size was consumed by another predator is unprecedented in scientific observations. The researchers did not witness the attack but were able to infer the sequence of events leading to the porbeagle’s demise based on the transmitted data from the tracking devices attached to the shark during a catch-and-release survey.
After the tagged porbeagle completed a migration from Cape Cod to Bermuda, the transmitted data suddenly indicated a sharp increase in temperature at depths of 300 and 600 meters, signaling that the tag was no longer attached to the porbeagle but likely inside the stomach of a larger predator. By analyzing various factors revealed by the tag, such as temperature readings and predator size, the scientists narrowed down the potential killers to a shortfin mako or a great white shark. They determined that a great white shark was the most likely predator responsible for the porbeagle’s demise, leading to a unique situation of shark predation within the marine ecosystem.
While the evidence points towards a large white shark as the likely suspect, there are alternative scenarios that could explain the fate of the porbeagle. It is plausible that a predator consumed the tag without eating the shark it was attached to, or that another porbeagle was involved in the interaction. While white sharks are known to feed on various shark species, including large sharks, it remains an intriguing scientific mystery to determine precisely what transpired between the two shark species. The discovery of the predation event sheds light on the complex dynamics of marine ecosystems and the interactions between different species in the underwater world, showcasing a rare glimpse into the natural world of these apex predators.
