He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
It is called Sphyrna tiburo and is an omnivorous shark that feeds on both plants and small fish, molluscs and other invertebrates. It lives on the coasts of the Pacific, Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico and its diet has become part of a study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
A team of scientists from the University of California and Florida has identified the first species of sharks which would be totally omnivorous. It is the bonnethead shark or shovelhead shark, known due to the curious shape of its head in the shape of a hammer, a small shark (although the females can reach large dimensions).
The research began with an analysis of the eating habits of sharks and the fact that some consumed algae and marine plants. But if at the beginning it was thought that all this happened in a completely accidental way, the team led by Samantha Leigh came to different conclusions.
This shark, in fact, has an apparatus capable of digesting, assimilating and absorbing the nutritional values of aquatic plants which have been found in a percentage of 62% in the stomach. So nothing casual, on the contrary. The shark then feeds on crabs, shrimps, snails and fish.
Photo: Leigh
To confirm that it was omnivorous, the researchers conducted an experiment. The plants were traced through the use of a carbon isotope to make it possible to establish whether five specimens were able to consciously choose the algae to take advantage of the nutrients.
From this first test it emerged that 90% of the diet of this species is composed of algae, while 10% of other, mainly squid.
Through other analyzes, the team confirmed that sharks absorb plant nutrients well and this confirms that the bonnethead shark or shovelhead shark prefers an omnivorous and not exclusively carnivorous diet.
As a further test, the experts checked the enzymes and found that Sphyrna tiburo has high concentrations of vegetable fiber and carbohydrates.
What does this all mean? According to the team that the role of sharks in the food chain is questioned.
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Dominella Trunfio
