This is the first case of such a murder in nature: a pregnant shark was eaten by another shark. How scientists explain it

A team of scientists hung a tracking device on a pregnant shark off the coast of Bermuda. However, after a while, the researchers found their tag floating on the water's surface.

After analyzing the data from the device, the scientists concluded that the pregnant female had been swallowed by another shark. According to experts, this is the first known case of this type of killing in nature, NBC News reports.

According to scientific data, a bull shark (Lamna nasus) can reach a length of about 4 meters. These large predators patrol the North Atlantic Ocean, as well as parts of the Southern Hemisphere oceans, starting in the Antarctic. Their muscular, streamlined forms and angular spear-like teeth make them formidable predators.

However, there has never been a recorded case of a shark eating its kind. "This is the first documented case of such predation by a sea shark anywhere in the world," said Brooke Anderson, lead author of the study and a marine fisheries biologist with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.

According to the researchers, the pregnant female shark was spotted using a satellite transmitter and a retractable satellite archival tag (PSAT) near Cape Cod. Data from these devices were designed to track the shark's depth and geographic range over time. While the satellite transmitters are permanent, the PSAT tags are designed to detach from the animal one year after recording its movements.

Just weeks before a pregnant great white shark was due to give birth, one of the two tags that marine scientists had placed on the animal floated to the surface near Bermuda. "Something went very wrong," Brooke Anderson immediately suspected the strangeness.

The data from the found device showed an interesting pattern. For about five months, the depth and temperature information was normal for this species of shark. However, in an instant, the information changed dramatically.

"Suddenly, the temperature spiked even at 600 meters and remained high," Anderson said. The shark's diving pattern also became strange.

"All the data pointed to the same conclusion: it was eaten," Brooke added.

The authors of the study named several possible killers. However, they narrowed down the suspects based on their biology. "It had to be a shark that can raise its body temperature above the surrounding water. It had to be large enough to inflict fatal bites on its relative," the biologist summarized.

The researchers concluded that the white shark or shortfin mako shark probably swallowed the pregnant female along with the tag. "I'm guessing it was a mature female white shark, probably over 4.5 meters," said Brooke Anderson.

Before this, the researchers had not even thought that sea sharks could become prey.

Experts have determined that the abnormal tag readings are because the device spent several days in the stomach of the killer animal before it was released.

In total, the researchers found and tagged 11 giant sharks over two seasons in the Atlantic. The goal of the team of scientists was to track pregnant sea sharks and find out where these creatures usually swim to give birth.

However, the scientists did not even think that they would reveal the secret of the deep-sea murder.

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