A strange deep-sea ‘dragon’ shark has amazed spectators by appearing on a tourist beach. The pregnant Portuguese shark, usually found at depths of 3,500m, weighed 40lbs and measured 4ft 8in in length when it washed up on Luarca Beach in north-western Spain.
This shark species, also called a Portuguese dogfish, was previously a common catch for its meat and oil but is now nearing extinction. Known for feeding on fish, molluscs, and sea mammals, the shark has faced population decline due to overfishing and low reproduction rates, resulting in a ban on catching them.
Designated as ‘Near Threatened’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the shark’s autopsy was conducted by Luis Laria from the Centre for Studies and Protection of Marine Species to determine its cause of death and beaching. While the exact reason for its death remains inconclusive, it is suspected that the shark was hooked by fishermen, leading to fatal injuries as it struggled to escape.
The examination revealed the presence of 12 large eggs with developing embryos and nine undeveloped eggs in the shark’s body. Despite finding no food remains in its digestive tract, a tear in the oesophagus suggests accidental capture as a potential cause of death. Local residents likened the creature’s appearance to characters from the How to Train Your Dragon franchise, noting similarities to Toothless and Shadow.