Sharks Hunted Whales in Prehistoric North Sea

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Fossil discoveries in Belgium have provided unprecedented insight into the predator-prey relationships in the North Sea region from 5 million years ago. Embedded shark teeth found in the skulls of extinct whale species indicate that large sharks like the sixgill shark and an extinct relative of the great white shark actively hunted and scavenged whales in this prehistoric marine ecosystem.

Why it matters

These fossils paint a picture of a North Sea vastly different from today's relatively shark-free environment. Understanding how predator-prey dynamics and species ranges have shifted over time can inform modern marine conservation efforts, particularly as climate change continues to impact ecosystems.

The details

Researchers at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences analyzed two fossil whale skulls - a small extinct right whale and a juvenile relative of modern belugas and narwhals. Within both skulls, they found fragments of shark teeth, providing direct evidence of feeding behavior. The location of the bite marks suggests differing attack strategies - the right whale skull had deep grooves high on the head, indicating scavenging of a floating carcass, while the beluga relative's skull showed angled cuts across the snout, suggesting a more aggressive predatory attack.

• The fossils are approximately 5 million years old, dating back to the Early Pliocene epoch.

What’s next

Further fossil discoveries from the North Sea are needed to build a more complete picture of this lost ecosystem. Dating additional fossils could reveal when prey animals disappeared and whether shark populations followed suit.