The incident occurred in May 2022 while the James Cook University (JCU) crew was shark-tagging in the vicinity of Queensland’s Orpheus Island.
It is said to be the first time a tiger shark has been seen consuming one of the prickly creatures, which can reach a length of almost 50 centimeters.
Shark researcher Nicolas Lubitz said, “I stared at it and said, ‘What the hell is that?'” after it spat it out.
“You can see the outline of the echidna in the water, but I was only able to capture one picture.”
The echidna, a species that is unique to Australia and some areas of Papua New Guinea, was likely caught while swimming in shallow water or possibly between islands, according to the experts.
Tiger sharks aren’t particularly fussy eaters, despite their reputation for having enormous appetites. There are reports of them consuming tires, license plates, seabirds, and even a small TV.
Dr. Lubitz remarked, “I’ve seen videos of them eating a rock for no apparent reason.”
Though it is more uncommon for them to do so, he believes this 3-meter-long shark may have overestimated the amount of food it had.
He declared, “It was an echidna with all of its legs and spines in tact.”
“In this instance, I believe the echidna was simply experiencing some discomfort in its throat.”
