Crocodile Shark Found In Devon

Crocodile shark, normally found in tropical climates, has been found dead in British waters.

18:10 07 March 2017

A rare species of shark, normally found in tropical climates, has been found on a beach in Devon. The crocodile shark, related to the Great White, has never been seen before in British waters and may have died due to cold waters, experts have claimed.

 

It is the smallest of the Mackerel sharks and shares distinctive spiky teeth with the Great White. It feeds on fish and squid and is normally found in deep water.

 

The dead shark was spotted by Steven Greenfields who sent photos of it to the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth.

 

He said: "We regularly visit this beach and have never seen anything like this before.

 

"My whole family was stunned as the animal had really unusual features but was unmistakably a shark."

 

James Wright, curator at the aquarium, said: "This species has never been recorded in the UK before.

 

"It is likely to be an isolated incident, but there have been similar stranding incidents in South Africa. This time of year though UK waters are at their coldest so this occurrence is very unusual."