Marine biologists from James Cook University have discovered a tiger shark regurgitating a beaked urchin off the northeastern coast of Australia. The incident, which occurred in May 2022, marks the first documented evidence of this behavior in tiger sharks.
Nicolas Lubitz, part of the research team, was surprised by the event, noting that it was a rare occurrence. He managed to capture a photo of the shark expelling the urchin from its mouth, showing its distinct outline in the water. Lubitz speculated that the shark likely ingested the urchin while swimming in shallow waters near Orpheus Island and that it was still intact when regurgitated.
Tiger sharks are known for their varied diet and sometimes consume non-digestible items like car tires and license plates. While regurgitating food is uncommon in sharks, it can occur when they are stressed or experiencing digestive problems. In this case, it seems that the shark was not pleased with having the urchin in its throat.
The discovery sheds light on the behavior and diet of these marine predators, highlighting the diverse range of prey that tiger sharks consume and adding to our understanding of their feeding habits and interactions with their environment.
