During a recent expedition near Orpheus Island in Australia, scientists made an intriguing discovery involving a tiger shark. A team of researchers from James Cook University observed the shark regurgitating a beaked urchin in May 2022. This event is believed to be the first of its kind documented in the world.
The marine biologist leading the research, Nicolas Lubitz, was astonished by what he saw. He snapped a photo of the moment when the shark expelled the intact urchin from its mouth, clearly showing the outline of the creature in the water. Lubitz speculated that the shark likely grabbed the urchin while swimming in shallow waters near the island due to its intact state when regurgitated.
The 3-meter shark was not particularly large, but it was unusual for it to regurgitate food. Lubitz explained that stress can sometimes cause sharks to expel their food, and in this case, the shark may not have liked having the urchin in its throat. Tiger sharks are known to be scavengers with diverse diets, consuming a wide range of prey and sometimes ingesting indigestible items.
According to James Cook University, tiger sharks have been documented swallowing objects such as car tires, license plates, and even a small TV screen. The discovery of the beaked urchin regurgitation provides valuable insight into the feeding habits and behaviors of these fascinating marine creatures.
The team at James Cook University plans to continue their research on tiger sharks and other marine life in order to better understand their behaviors and adapt to changing ocean conditions.
