According to their results recently published in the journal Ecology and Evolution, the culprit is clear: a killer whale fatally assaulted the over-15-foot-long shark, then proceeded to devour its innards. While it most likely zeroed-in on the nutrient-rich liver, multiple scavengers also got in on the meal.

DNA evidence has confirmed that killer whales in Australia hunted a white shark for its liver—marking the first recorded case in the region. The carcass, discovered in Victoria, showed telltale bite wounds,

Scientists said the presence of killer whale DNA on the great white shark was the result of a "true predation event".

Recent findings used wildlife forensics and citizen science data to provide the first confirmed evidence of killer whale predation on white sharks in Australia.

Great white sharks are washing up dead on beaches with enlarged brains in what is becoming a spiralling marine mystery.