A female great white shark was spotted off the coast of Alabama twice last month, according to researchers at the University of South Alabama.

The school named the shark “Miss Paula” after the Jaguars mascot, and seized the opportunity to name it because it had never been documented before and was recognizable by the scar pattern on its head and fins, typical of great whites.

Miss Paula is about 8 feet long and is estimated to be about 15 years old. Meanwhile, South has also been tracking a 12-foot long tiger shark that he has named South Jaw.

This isn't the first great white shark to be spotted in these waters recently: one was caught by fishermen and another washed up dead on a Florida peninsula beach. The species was thought to be uncommon in the northern Gulf of Mexico, but researchers are now not so sure.

However, Miss Paula is the first great white shark to be spotted and recorded in the area by scientists.

“We've surveyed more than 1,000 artificial and natural reefs over the past decade, providing scientific data to inform Alabama's offshore fisheries management, and this is the first great white shark sighting we've documented,” said Dr. Shawn Powers, director of the Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences.

The school also reminded everyone that sharks are vital to the state's rich marine ecosystem and must be released if caught.

“Alabama is home to a rich marine ecosystem and sharks are a key component. Anglers are reminded that great white sharks are a federally prohibited species and must be released alive if caught,” the school said in a news release.

Michael Browner is a senior sports analyst and contributor to Yellow Hammer News. You can follow him on Twitter. translation: