Scientists have been left baffled after a 12-foot great white shark washed up on a beach off Cape Cod, not far from where the classic Jaws movie was filmed.

"A 12-foot male white shark was found dead on Pleasant Road Beach in Harwich late last night," said the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.

"Dr. Greg Skomal of the Massachsuetts Division of Marine Fisheries performed a necropsy on the shark after it had been moved to the Harwich Transfer Station...No indication as to the cause of death."

View photos Scientists have been left baffled after a 12-foot great white shark washed up on a beach off Cape Cod, not far from where the classic Jaws movie was filmed. Photo: Atlantic White Shark Conservancy More

Researchers removed the shark's fins and tail before slicing open its side to examine more closely the contents of the stomach, which often gives clues to a cause of death.

But alas there were no obvious clues, nor were their any obvious signs of trauma such as bruises or punctures.

View photos Researchers removed the shark's fins and tail before slicing open its side to examine more closely the contents of the stomach. Photo: Atlantic White Shark Conservancy More

"I may never find out,” Skomal told officials from the nonprofit organisation Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.

“We don’t know why these things happen most of the time.”

View photos The 12-foot male white shark was found dead on Pleasant Road Beach in Harwich. Photo: Atlantic White Shark Conservancy More

Just earlier this month the conservancy was forced to respond to another Cape Cod beach where a great white shark had been washed ashore alive.

In this case, a massive 14-foot adult male washed up on White Crest Beach in Wellfleet. Despite the best efforts of a number of beachgoers, the shark died.

In July, a male great white shark found itself in the hands of humans when it became stranded in Chatham, Massachusetts.

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