A shark swallowed this brutal animal off Australian coast, then immediately regretted
The egg-laying mammals known as echidnas are unique to Australia and New Guinea
Australian scientists were stunned after they spotted a giant tiger shark spitting out a spiky land-loving echidna off the country's northeast coast. Researchers from James Cook University revealed Thursday (Jun 6) that they spotted a shark regurgitating the spiny, hedgehog-like creature back in May 2022. The shark didn't like its dinner and according to the experts, it must have swallowed the spiky organism while swimming in shallows or while travelling between islands.
"We were quite shocked at what we saw. We really didn't know what was going on," said Nicolas Lubitz Thursday. "When it spat it out, I looked at it and remarked 'What the hell is that?'"
The first thing that Nicolas did after spotting the shark was to put out his phone and start filming the rare incident. "I managed to only get one picture, but you can see the outline of the echidna in the water," he said.
The echidna was dead but whole when the shark spatit out, leading the scientists to assume the shark had recently eaten it.
The egg-laying mammals known as echidnas are unique to Australia and New Guinea. They have spines sticking out of their bodies and they are known for devouring ants with a beak-like snout. According to WWF, during the breeding season, echidnas like to form a "train" in which up to 10 male echidnas follow a female in the hopes of becoming her mate.
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The number of these creatures that exist in the wild is unknown.
"Tiger sharks will eat anything. They're just a scavenger. I've seen videos of them eating a rock for no reason," Lubitz said. "I think the echidna must have just felt a bit funny in its throat."
(With inputs from agencies)