Scientists have discovered a huge royal albatross, which they believe died after swallowing a shark whole. A shark's tail protruded from the albatross's neck.
An unusual find is reported by the New Scientist portal. Staff at the New Zealand Museum in Wellington have found a dead northern royal albatross, Diomedea sanfordi, washed ashore. The amazing thing was that a shark's tail protruded from the bird's neck.
“We were very surprised to see the shark tail protruding from the bird's neck, but we were even more surprised when we realized that the entire shark remained intact inside the albatross,” says museum curator Alan Tennyson. The shark occupied almost the entire body cavity of the albatross. Note that the northern royal albatross reaches a length of 115 cm, its weight ranges from 6, 2 to 8, 2 kg. The wingspan reaches 3 meters.
© newscientist.com
According to scientists, the shark was already dead when the albatross swallowed it. Albatrosses primarily feed on carrion, but they have very sharp beaks that first 'cut' the prey into pieces and then swallow them, says Tennyson. “This shark had rough skin, and the albatross may have grabbed it, eventually swallowing it whole. With tragic consequences for him. " Shark and albatross skeletons will be housed in the New Zealand Museum.