A strange-looking deep-sea ‘dragon’ shark has amazed spectators by appearing on a tourist beach. The pregnant Portuguese shark, typically residing 3,500m below the ocean surface, weighed 40lbs (18kg) and stretched an impressive 4ft 8in (1.45m) when it washed up on Luarca Beach in Spain.
Once a commonly caught species for its meat and oil, the shark, also known as a Portuguese dogfish, is now at risk of extinction due to overfishing and low reproduction rates. Feeding mainly on fish, molluscs, and sea mammals, this shark has been observed attacking giant squid.
Considered ‘Near Threatened’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, efforts to protect the species have increased. Luis Laria, from the Centre for Studies and Protection of Marine Species, conducted an autopsy on the shark to determine the cause of death and why it ended up on the beach.
Laria highlighted the remarkable abilities of the centroscymnus coelolepises shark to withstand extreme pressures in deep waters. Despite examining the shark, the exact reason for its death remains unclear, with suspicion that it may have been injured by a fishing crew before washing ashore.
The autopsy revealed significant findings, including the presence of gestation with large developing eggs and signs of potential accidental capture leading to fatal injuries. Local witnesses likened the creature’s appearance to characters from the How to Train Your Dragon franchise, noting the unusual eyes reminiscent of Toothless and Shadow.