The small sharks that damaged a catamaran off the coast of Cairns have been described as “pencils with teeth” and they have a history of trying to eat inanimate objects, including submarines.

Three people were rescued from the inflatable vessel and the Russian Geographic Society – which was involved with the sailor’s round-the-world expedition – confirmed the hull was attacked by cookiecutter sharks in the Coral Sea.

Marine biologists believe the attack was “a classic case of mistaken identity” from a “supercool” little shark that glows in the dark and has a very big attitude, despite its size.