A black shark with huge eyes was found on the beaches of Spain, quickly gaining popularity on the internet due to its unusual appearance.
This predator, known as Dalatias licha, washed ashore in the area of Luarca, which is an extremely rare event, as these sharks typically inhabit depths of up to 1600 meters. Note: the length of the found specimen was 1.45 meters, and its weight was 18 kilograms, which attracted the attention of vacationers.
The shark's giant eyes are an adaptation to life in the dark depths of the ocean, which also led to its comparison with characters from anime and manga on social media.
According to the British publication The Mirror, local scientists have begun to study this unique find. Luis Laria, head of the Marine Species Research Center, performed an autopsy on the fish to determine the cause of its death. During the autopsy, it was found that the shark was pregnant and had 12 embryos.
However, as the examination showed, the shark died due to mechanical damage: a torn cut measuring 3.5 centimeters was found in its esophagus. Scientists believe that it may have accidentally swallowed a fishing hook, after which, having freed itself from the line, it sustained a serious injury that led to severe bleeding.
This species of shark, also known as the Portuguese shark, was previously subjected to intensive fishing for its valuable meat and fat. Currently, they are endangered, and their catch is prohibited due to slow reproductive rates. The liver of the found specimen weighed 5 kilograms, which is a significant portion of its weight. In the wild, these sharks feed on fish and sometimes hunt giant squids.
The unusual appearance of the shark sparked active discussions among locals and tourists, many of whom compared it to the character Toothless from the popular animated film "How to Train Your Dragon." Despite the sad outcome, this find provided scientists with new data on the biology of this rare species.
