The attacks left their inflatable boat partly sunken – prompting them to issue a distress call to nearby vessels in the early hours of Wednesday. Unlike great whites or hammerheads, cookiecutter sharks are not usually associated with attacks in the open ocean. They’re hiding out to molt When the prey is close, the shark then uses its sucking lips and sharp upper teeth to attach itself to the larger animal. Cookiecutter sharks have only been involved in four confirmed, unprovoked bites, which all happened in Hawaii, it said, citing the International Shark Attack File. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said in a statement Wednesday that “a large section” of the inflatable vessel’s hull was missing when it was found.

Source: CNN September 07, 2023 18:43 UTC