Tiger Shark Vomits Echidna in Front of Biologists

SIDNEY – A tiger shark, a notoriously voracious marine predator, is surprising biologists by throwing up an unexpected Australian icon: an echidna with a short, pointed beak.

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This incident occurred off the coast of Orpheus Island in north Queensland, Australia, when the research team was catching the shark to label it.

Marine biologist Nicolas Lubitz from James Cook University in Australia, who led the research project, captured the rare moment. The tiger shark, which is about 3 meters (9.4 feet) long, regurgitated the spiny echidna after it was caught and lifted aboard the boat.

Lubitz said that tiger sharks typically eat a wide variety of prey, including seabirds, other sharks, and even objects like tires and license plates. However, he had never seen a tiger shark eating an echidna before.

Echidnas are egg-laying mammals originating from Australia and Papua New Guinea. They have spines and a body shape similar to a hedgehog, and spend most of their time digging for food. Echidnas are considered protected animals in Australia.

As reported by Science Alert, Sunday (9/6/2024), this event shows that tiger sharks have a wider appetite than previously thought.

This also suggests that echidnas may be more vulnerable to predation by sharks than previously thought.

Lubitz and his team hope their research will help us learn more about tiger sharks and echidnas, as well as predator-prey relationships in the sea.

(wbs)