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A shark more commonly found in waters off Asia and North America left wildlife experts astonished when it jumped out of the water in front of their boat off West Wales.

Only days after New Quay beach in Ceredigion was closed following a sighting of a blue shark , researchers spotted this thresher shark on the same stretch of coastline.

Vessel Sulaire was carrying passengers and researchers from the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre (CBMWC) on an all-day survey when the shark dramatically emerged from the ocean.

Sarah Perry, CBMWC’s science officer, was on board at the time. She said sightings of the sharks had been increasing in recent years in UK waters.

“Thresher sharks are normally found in deep waters but can follow their prey closer to the shore so maybe that’s what this one was doing,” she said.

“Perhaps either it or its prey were attracted by increasing sea temperatures.

“You can recognise thresher sharks by their long tails – which they use to herd their prey into tight groups before feeding on them.”