Something Large Ate Great White Shark Scientists Were Tracking
Posted on June 10, 2014
Scientists tagged a great white shark off the coast of Australia. The 3-meter-long female shark that was tagged was named Shark Alpha. Four months later the shark's tag was founded by a beachcomber. It washed ashore about 2.5 miles from where it had been attached to the shark.
Scientists say the data on the tag revealed that the shark had been eaten by something much larger, possibly a much larger great white shark or an unknown predator. CNN reports that researchers say if it was another shark that ate Alpha, it must have been a 2-ton "colossal cannibal great white shark."
The tag data indicates shark Alpha plunged straight down the edge of a shelf 580 meters at a high speed. A large temperature shift was also recorded that indicated the tag ended up inside the belly of another animal. Take a look:
The tale of the lost shark is part of a Smithsonian Institute documentary, Hunt for the Super Predator. It airs on June 25th at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. and June 26 at 4 p.m.
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