Tiger sharks regurgitate Echidna in a world premiere event

In a once-in-a-lifetime discovery, a team of researchers from James Cook University observed tiger sharks regurgitate a unique food choice: echidna. Also known as spiny anteaters, these iconic monotremes are native to Australia and New Guinea. Characterized by a unique combination of mammals and reptiles, including spines that cover their backs and long, attractive tongues that are used to catch ants and grass (their main food) is a staple food), these animals are found in all parts of the world such as forests, grasslands, and grasslands. desert. To be clear: echidnas are not rare animals near aquatic habitats. So seeing a tiger shark spit is rare… and unexpected.

Named for their distinctive vertical lines that resemble tiger patterns, tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) are famous for their unhealthy diet, making them the “garbage of the sea.” Carnivores have been listed as eating more unusual things than their usual prey such as tires, license plates, TNT, chicken wire, and more. Their strong appetite and ability to eat almost anything shows that they are truly scavengers in the marine environment, adapting to different environments and cooking. the food is amazing.

Dr. Nicolas Lubitz and his team were in the middle of their research, focusing on tagging different marine species, off the coast of Orpheus Island in northern Queensland, when they caught almost is a 10 foot long (three meter) tiger shark. What happened next surprised them. We were very surprised by what we saw. We don’t really know what’s going on,” Lubitz said. When he spat on it, I looked at him and said, ‘What is it?’ Someone asked to take a picture, so I was trying to get my phone. I managed to get only one photo, but you can see the details of the echidna in the water.”

The dead echidna was never revived, indicating that it was a recent kill. “It’s an ugly echidna with all its spines and legs,” Lubitz said. The shark’s habit of regurgitating its food is rare but not unheard of. Although regurgitation is not common among all sharks, it sometimes occurs as a natural response to various internal or external stimuli affecting the shark’s diet. “It is very rare that they throw away their food, but sometimes, when they are tired, they can. In this case, I think the echidna must have a funny thing in its throat.”

Despite the gruesome encounter, the shark appeared to be fine. The group attached it to the rock band before releasing it back into the ocean. But did the echidna’s spines hurt him? Many carnivores have a special digestive system that can handle tough or spiny meat, with strong stomach acids or enzymes that can break down spines or other tough things. Although the tiger shark’s stomach is strong, their ability to eat such a large carnivore – with such a large backbone – is not well known. After all, it’s not like the ocean is full of echidnas running around! Perhaps he is manipulating the small animal so that it does not injure the body? Unfortunately, at this time, we do not have an answer.

But, what happened to the echidna was not the only thing that was visible during their research! Another shark the team caught turned out to be half a dugong, which was also unexpected. “He dropped a large piece of blubber and a complete vertebral column. I think it was a dugong calf that he went with,” Lubitz explained.

The JCU team’s research is part of a larger initiative, the Queensland Integrated Marine Observing System Acoustic Telemetry Array Project; The project aims to tag and track marine life such as jewfish, snapper, mullet, shovelnose rays, and various shark species. By placing acoustic receivers along the Queensland coast, the researchers are gathering data on the movements and behavior of these animals. So far, the project has tagged 812 animals and followed 10 years, covering the region from the Gold Coast to the Torres Strait. The project involves several groups, including the Australian Institute of Marine Science, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries’ (DAF) Shark Control Program, Queensland DAF Fish Aggregation Devices Program, JCU, Department of Environment and Science, Biopixel Oceans Foundation. Parks Australia, and the University of the Sunshine Coast. Lubitz explained, “There are always acoustic receivers along the coast of Queensland, but they have stopped and they don’t pick up much movement. “With the Queensland Array, we have filled a lot of gaps and with that project, we have picked up a movement of species like a shovelnose ray going from Townsville to the Sunshine Coast, which people don’t think is a migration.”

One of the most significant discoveries from the project as a whole is the migratory behavior of shovelnose rays, a very dangerous species. “They’re such a formidable species that we’ve caught and tagged some that were almost three meters long,” Lubitz said. Detailed data downloads from the sound system will be available later this year, allowing researchers to analyze migration patterns and other behaviors of different marine species.