Friday 28 June 2019

American tourist killed in Shark attack in the Bahamas.

An American student has died after being attacked by three Tiger Sharks, Galeocerdo cuvier, while holidaying in the Bahamas. Californian Jordan Lindsay, 21, was snorkeling of Rose Island, when she was attacked by three Sharks, which bit her on the legs and buttocks as well as removing her right arm. Such attacks are extremely rare (the Bahamas only recorded four Shark attacks in the period 2007-2016, including a single fatality), and experts in the region are trying to work out what triggered the incident.

Jordan Lindsay, 21, of Torrence, California, killed in a Shark attack in the Bahamas. Evening Standard.

Despite their fearsome reputation, attacks by Sharks are relatively rare and most attacks on Humans by Sharks are thought to be mistakes. Tiger Sharks have a diverse diet, including invertebrates, Fish, Birds, Marine Reptiles and Marine Mammals, which we superficially resemble when we enter the water. Marine Mammals are attacked principally for their thick adipose (fat) layers, which are a nutritious high-energy food, but which we lack. Due to this, when Sharks do attack Humans these attacks are often broken off without the victim being consumed. Such attacks frequently result in severe injuries, but are seldom immediately fatal, and victims are likely to survive if they receive immediate medical attention.

A Tiger Shark in the Bahamas. Albert Kok/Wikimedia Commons.

See also...

https://sciencythoughts.blogspot.com/2019/06/icelandic-fishermen-fired-for-cruelty.htmlhttps://sciencythoughts.blogspot.com/2019/06/teenager-injured-by-shark-in-north.html
https://sciencythoughts.blogspot.com/2019/06/sphyrna-mokarran-pregnant-great.htmlhttps://sciencythoughts.blogspot.com/2019/05/californian-man-killed-by-shark-off.html
https://sciencythoughts.blogspot.com/2019/05/diprosopovenator-hilperti-new-species.htmlhttps://sciencythoughts.blogspot.com/2019/05/identifying-sharks-and-rays-from-waters.html
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