A really big shark got gobbled up by another, massive shark in 1st known case of its kind

A large, predatory shark swimming near Bermuda was gobbled up by an even bigger shark — even swallowing the tracking device that was attached to it — in what scientists say is the first recorded case of its kind.

Porbeagle sharks (Lamna nasus) can grow to about 12 feet (3.6 meters) long. These large sharks patrol the Northern Atlantic Ocean as well as parts of the oceans of the Southern Hemisphere, ranging into the Antarctic. Their muscular, streamlined forms and angled, spear-like teeth make them formidable predators. But the porbeagle, it seems, is not immune to predation itself.

In a paper published Tuesday (Sept. 3) in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, researchers describe the likely predation of a porbeagle shark by one of its larger relatives. "This is the first documented predation event of a porbeagle shark anywhere in the world," study lead author Brooke Anderson, marine fisheries biologist with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality said in a statement.

The pregnant female shark was tagged in October 2020 using both a satellite transmitter and a pop-off satellite archival tag (PSAT) near Cape Cod. Data from these devices was meant to track the shark's depth and geographic range over time. While satellite transmitters are permanent, the PSAT tags are designed to detach from the animal after a year, having recorded data on its movements.

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The porbeagles follow their prey, changing position in the water column throughout the day.

Their depth is calculated using pressure and temperature data from the PSAT tags. Anomalies in pressure and temperature indicate that the animal has died, or the tag has somehow detached prematurely.