The bonnethead shark has recently been found to be an omnivore. Its diet includes a large proportion of seagrass along with fish, crabs, snails, and shrimp; in fact the proportion of vegetable matter in its diet could be as high as 60%.
As the article says, “…contrary to their bloodthirsty image, some sharks are not irrepressible meat eaters, but are happy to munch on vegetation too.”
That is a helpful reminder that not only do we still have lots to learn about sharks, but the idea of sharks as dangerous killers is mistaken, and unhelpful to the cause of shark preservation.
Posted by John Gardener