Friday, 27 March 2015

Marine mammals spotted killing SHARKS and eating their guts off the coast of South Africa

Scientists have reported multiple cases of cape fur seals attacking blue sharks and eating their guts off the coast of South Africa. Diver Chris Fallows captured this image. The behaviour has left marine biologists baffled as to why the seals have turned to attacking the torpedo-shaped sharks
Fur seals caught on camera attacking blue sharks and eating up their guts which is thought to be  the most energy dense part of the Shark for the seals.This is a sharp departure from the eating pattern of the seals,known for eating smaller fishes.
Scientist fear that this trend could further endanger the blue sharks specie which is on the decline.While most people will be familiar with images of seals being violently smashed out of the water snatched in the jaws of a shark, it appears some are exacting their revenge on the ocean predators.
The unusual behaviour was spotted by divers off the coast of South Africa.See more pictures after the cut...

The blue sharks are around the same size as the seals and it is thought to be the first time a seal has been seen preying on such a large predator. An expert said there are relatively few reports of pinnipeds, or seals, preying on sharks in general, and in all cases these involved smaller sharks

Blue sharks, like the one above, are one of the ocean's top predators with a sleek body and mouth full of teeth. Dr Neil Hammerschlaf, a marine biologist at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Astmospheric Science said the seals appear to be eating the guts of these sharks as they contain the most energy

Cape fur seals, like the one pictured, normally use their manoeuverability to prey upon smaller fish and squid

Photo credit:HGMPRESS/Alamy/Tim Sheerman-Chase/Wikipedia Commons
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