Cork lifeguard service has tweeted pictures of a blue shark that washed up on Inchydoney beach.
A Blue #shark that washed up on Inchydoney #beach in Cork this morning! #justanotherdayintheoffice pic.twitter.com/Wj9NHOV9hF
— CorkLifeguardService (@CorkCoCoBeachLG) July 20, 2015
It is a very rare sighting in Ireland because the blue shark is usually found in deeper, colder waters and likes tropical waters.
Pic: Cork Lifeguard Service
They feed primarily on small fish and squid, although they can take larger prey.
Blue sharks rarely bite humans, but they have been known to kill people. There are only four documented deaths in the hundreds of years since records began.
Pic: Cork Lifeguard Service
Pic: Cork Lifeguard Service
The blue shark is usually lethargic but can swim at fast speeds, allowing it to catch up to prey easily. Its triangular teeth allows it to easily catch hold of slippery prey.
Pic: Cork Lifeguard Service
Pic: Cork Lifeguard Service
Large specimens can grow to 3.8 m (12 ft) long.
The blue shark typically weighs from 27 to 55 kg (60 to 121 lb) in males and from 93 to 182 kg (205 to 401 lb) in large females.
