Shark caught alive with the tip of a swordfish stuck on its head

A rare event has been recorded in Vlora, where fishermen have brought alive from the sea a shark that had the sharp tip of a swordfish stuck on its head.

This is the first case in the world that a shark survives with a fragment of swordfish embedded in its skull, experts say.

"The blue shark was drilled in the head by a swordfish, but lived to tell the story on the first known occasion of a shark surviving this type of attack.

When the shark was caught by fishermen in Zhengzhou, it had no fresh puncture wounds and had bait in its stomach, which indicated it fed normally. An autopsy later revealed an 18.6-centimetre nose fragment of the swordfish embedded in its skull," new scientist reports.

"When I realized that there was a swordfish tip inside the shark's head, I was surprised," says Andrej Gajic from the Sharklab ADRIA Research Center in Vlora.

Gajic has conducted tens of thousands of shark autopsy. "I've never come across anything like this before, nor have I read about it in literature," he says. His team attempts to revive and release captive sharks as casual catches if possible, but this shark died before it reached the harbour.

There have been eight previously documented cases of blue sharks (Prionace glauca) being struck by swordfish (Xiphias gladius) with the tip of swordfish found on or near the shark's head. A large-eyed rainy shark (Alopias superciliosus) and a short-stranded mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) have also been found struck by small fish, the group that includes swordfish.

This is the first verified shark survival in such a showdown. While it was thrice at the shark, the young swordfish probably reacted instinctively by lifting its head, snapping its tip without damaging any of the shark's vital structures, Gajic says.

The adult shark measured 275 centimetres and weighed 44 pounds. Swordfish can grow up to about 455 centimetres and weigh up to 650 kilograms. There are several reports of blue sharks feeding on swordfish and both animals use aggressive hunting tactics to feed on dense crowds of fish or squid.

Such collisions can occur when swordfish try to defend against a blue shark attack, or due to an accidental collision when both predators feed on the same prey. Gajic says more observations are needed to determine the cause.

Peshkaqeni blu

eshku shpatë