Thresher Shark

Beauty Of Animal | Thresher Shark | The Thresher Shark is also known as the Alopias Vulpinus or Fox Shark. Its name comes from the sharks unusually large tail (caudal fin), which is in most cases, as long as the shark itself, It's origin is also surrounded by mystery. Most likely, the closer relative of the Fox Shark is the Megamouth Shark. Scientific studies are ongoing to try and resolve the many mysteries that surround this unusual and unique fish. The largest known Thresher Sharks reach a length of more than 6 meters (20ft) and weigh 600 kilograms (216 pounds). Bigeye Thresers are normally the largest with Pelagic Threshers being the smallest.

These are slow growing sharks. They reach their maturity between 8 and 13 years old and live about 22 years. Again, there is quite a bit of mystery here. Some believe this shark is capable of living much longer, but simply hasen't been verified. Although Thresher Sharks love open and deep waters, they are also found in shallow waters near coastal areas. They are generally not found deeper than 500 meters (1,640ft). They favor the Pacific and Indian Oceans, especially at the continental shelves of America and Asia. But the exact habitat, again, remains largly a mystery.

In addition to electro receptors that all sharks have, which gives them they ability to detect electrical impulses from living creatures, they also have an extraordinary heat exchanger system. They're called "endoderms", which means that they have special thermoregulation. In other words, they produce heat through an internal body mechanism such as enhancing their metabolism and miscle shivering. This is largly a unique feature in Thresher Sharks. These are very athletic sharks. They are known for slaying their prey with their huge tails and are famous for special jumping techniques and behavior called "breaching" where they jump out of the water and into the air.

While hunting, they launch themselves with their whjole body out of the water and perform wild turns. They love to hunt schools of fish in the open Ocean waters and prefer Tuna, Mackerels, and someties go after certain breads of Seabirds. As with so many other aspects of this mysterious shark, the reproductive behavior is not well explored. We do know that they are ovoviviparous, which means that eggs evolve in the uterus until birth.

In general, they give birth to 2 to 5 pups at a time and the pups normally have a length of 120 to 160cm (47 to 63 inches). There is a special phenomenon called "oophagy" in the womb. The pups actually leave their eggs, still in the womb, and feed themselves with all the unfertilized eggs. The largest threat to the Thresher Shark is human fishing. Many fisherman catch them for sport, while others catch them for their fins, liver oil, tails, and flesh. Due to recent population depletion, new laws are being inacted to help protect this species from upsetting the fragile balance of the marine ecosystem, especially since these sharks have a low reproductive rate as compared to other sharks. This species poses very little threat to humans. The largest threat of injury is divers getting hit with the enormous tail. Attacks of any kind on humans are almost unheard of.

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Reef Shark

Beauty Of Animal | Reef Shark | While scientists are still trying to determine exactly how many of theses species exist, we do know that many of these sharks lose their lives from getting caught in fishing nets. Not only does it significantly reduce their population, it compromises the fragile ecosystem around coral reefs. Many new laws and regulations are being put into place to protect this ever important fish.

They are a larger threat to reef divers than any other shark and are considered to be moderately dangerous to humans. Usually, Grey and Silvertip Reef pose the biggest problems to divers, especially in the presence of food. Their aggression increases when they leave the safety of coral reefs and head into open waters. The vast majority of attacks from this shark are non-fatal and usually results from the shark feeling threatened.

As you can imagine, these fish love the tropical and subtropical water at coral reefs. They are mostly found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans as well as in Japanese Waters and the Mediterranean Sea. Normally, they are seen in shallow water near the surface and don't seem to go deeper than 80 meters (260 feet). They hunt squids, crabs, lobsters, shrimps, and every type of reef fish. What's interesting is their specific technique. They have found a way to "herd" their pray against reef faces.

This species is viviparous, which means the "pup" develops inside the mother, similar to the way human babies are developed. The pregnancy period is about 1 year and they typically don't give birth to more than 5 pups at once. The average size of a pup is 120 to 160cm (4 to 5 feet). Pup sharks reach maturity after about 5 to 6 years of age.

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Spiny Dogfish

Beauty Of Animal | Spiny Dogfish | The spiny dogfish, dogfish, piked dogfish or mud shark, Squalus acanthias, is one of the best known of the spiny dogfish, which are members of the family are in the order Squalidae Squaliformes. Though these common names apply to different species, Squalus acanthias is distinguished by having two spines (one anterior to each dorsal fin) and lacks an anal fin. It occurs mainly in shallow waters and further offshore in most parts of the world, especially in temperate waters.

Morphology and behavior  Spiny Dogfish
The spiny dogfish has dorsal spines, no anal fin, and white spots along its back. The caudal fin is asymmetrical lobes, forming a tail heterocercal. The species name refers to two of the acanthias shark spines. These are used defensively. If caught, the shark can arch its back to pierce her captor. Glands at the base of the spines secrete a mild poison. Males mature around 11 years, growing to 80-100 cm (2.6 to 3.3 meters) in length, in adult women 18 to 21 years and are slightly larger than males, reaching 98.5 to 159 cm (3.23 to 5.2 ft). Both sexes are gray-brown in color and are counter shaded. Males are identified by a pair of ventral fins modified as sperm-transfer agencies, or "claspers". The man adds a rank in the female cloaca during copulation.

Scientific classification
Kingdom:     Animalia
Phylum:     Chordata
Class:         Chondrichthyes
Subclass:     Elasmobranchii
Order:         Squaliformes
Family:         Squalidae
Genus:         Squalus
Species:     S. acanthias

Reproduction is viviparous aplacental, formerly called ovoviviparity. Fertilization is internal. The man adds a rank in the female oviduct opening and injects the sperm along a groove on the dorsum of the branch is. Immediately after fertilization the eggs are surrounded by thin shells called "candles" with a candle usually around a few eggs. Mating takes place in the winter months with pregnancy lasting 22 to 24 months. Nests are between 2 and 11, but on average 6 or 7.

Commercial use Spiny Dogfish

Dogfish are caught for food in Europe, the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Chile. The meat is mainly in England, France, Benelux and Germany. The fins and tail fin are processed into needles and are used in less expensive versions of shark fin soup in Chinese cuisine. In England these and other dogfish are sold in fish and chip shops as "rock salmon" or "Huss", in France it is sold as "little salmon" (saumonette) and in Belgium and Germany are sold as "sea eel" (Conger and Seeaal, respectively). It is also used as fertilizer, liver, and pet food, and because of the availability, cartilage skull, and the manageable size, as a popular vertebrate dissection specimen, in both high schools and universities.

Conservation & Management Spiny Dogfish

Once the most common shark species in the world, the people of Squalus acanthias has decreased significantly. They are classified in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as vulnerable worldwide and seriously endangered in the Northeast Atlantic, have significant inventories in Europe fell by at least 95%. This is a direct result of overfishing to northern Europe to deliver a taste for Rock Salmon, Saumonette or conger. Despite these alarming numbers, very little management or conservation measures taken to Squalus acanthias. In EU waters, a total allowable catch (TAC) since 1999 but until 2007 only to ICES zones IIa and IV. It was also well above the actual weight of the fish is caught until 2005, making it useless. Currently (2009), the TAC is at 316t for ICES zones IIa and IV, 104t in ICES zone IIIa and 1,002 tonnes for ICES areas I, V - VIII, XII and XIV. In addition, a maximum of 100 cm landing of becoming the most valuable to protect adult females. The European Commission has stated that the TAC for 2010 will be determined on the 0t, ending direct fishing of the species in EU waters. It remains to be seen whether people will be able to recover.

In the recent past, the European market for dogfish has increased dramatically, leading to overfishing and the decline of the species. This dramatic increase led to the creation and implementation of many fisheries policies placing restrictions on fishing for spiny dogfish. However, because the species is a late adult fish, it takes a while to rebuild the population. In 2010, Greenpeace International added to the spiny dogfish seafood red list. "The Greenpeace International seafood red list is a list of fish commonly sold in supermarkets around the world, and a very high risk to be coming from unsustainable fishing

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Shortfin Mako Shark

Beauty Of Animal | Shortfin Mako Shark | The shortfin mako shark, Isurus oxyrinchus ("sharp nose") is a large mackerel shark. Together with the closely related Longfin mako (Isurus paucus) is often referred to as a "mako shark." The shortfin mako shark is a slender shaft formed shark with a long conical snout. This shark has short pectoral fins and a crescent shaped caudal fin. There is a clear tail keel on the caudal base. The second dorsal fin is much smaller than the first. The teeth are slender and slightly curved, without lateral cusps, and are visible even when mouth is closed. There is a clear counter shading on this shark: dorsally it is a metallic indigo blue while ventrally it is white.

 

Scientific classification
Kingdom:     Animalia
Class:     Chondrichthyes
Order:     Lamniformes
Family:     Lamnidae
Genus:     Isurus
Species:     I. oxyrinchus
Binomial name
Isurus oxyrinchus

The Shortfin Mako Shark can grow to a length of 3.9 meters (13 feet). There is still some uncertainty over the lifespan, but it's probably between the ages of 11-23 years to achieve. As one of the fastest sharks in the ocean, this powerful burst swimming sharks reach speeds of 35 km / h (22 mph) and can jump out of the water to a height of 6 meters (20 feet). These qualities have this kind of a popular sport fish in some parts of the range.

Distinguishing features Shortfin Mako Shark

    Teeth are visible even when mouth is closed
    Teeth are long and slender, smooth-edged cusps
    Several counter shading dorsal blue and white ventrally
    Relatively short pectoral fins
    Bottom of the muzzle is white
    Lunate tail and caudal keel

Diet Shortfin Mako Shark
The Shortfin Mako Shark feeds mainly on bony fishes including mackerels, tunas, bonitos and swordfish, but may also eat other sharks, porpoises and sea turtles.

Display Shortfin Mako Shark
Female Shortfin Mako Shark are usually sexually mature at a length of 3 meters. Developing embryos feed on unfertilized eggs in the uterus during the gestation of 15-18 months. The 4-18 surviving young are born alive in late winter and early spring at a length of about 70 cm, but have no placental connection during development (ovoviviparity). It is believed that women could relax for 18 months after birth for the next lot of eggs are fertilized.

Habitat Shortfin Mako Shark
Shortfin Mako Shark live in tropical and temperate waters coast. They are a pelagic species occurring from surface to a depth of 150 meters (490 feet). This shark is seldom found in waters colder than 16 degrees Celsius.

Series Shortfin Mako Shark
The Shortfin Mako Shark is found worldwide. In the western Atlantic Ocean can be found from Argentina and the Gulf of Mexico to Browns Bank off Nova Scotia. In Canadian waters, these sharks are not in abundance as they prefer warm water, but neither are they rare. Shortfin Makos are often found in the same waters as swordfish as they are a source of both food and fish prefer similar environmental conditions.

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Atlantic Sharpnose Shark

Beauty Of Animal | Atlantic Sharpnose Shark | The Atlantic Sharpnose Shark, Rhizoprionodon terraenovae, is a requiem shark of the family Carcharhinidae, found in subtropical waters of the northwestern Atlantic Ocean between the latitudes 43 ° N and 25 ° S, its habitat Atlantic Sharp Nose sharks found in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean the Gulf of Mexico. At a depth of surf zone to 280 m (920 ft). They prefer the shallow coastal (less than 12 meters) of water in late spring and summer months. While the corpses to the deeper offshore (deeper than 90 m) water during the winter months choose. 

 

They are found throughout the year of the Carolina coast south to Florida and the Gulf of Atlantic Mexico.The Atlantic Sharpnose Shark is a small shark that size does not exceed 1.2 meters (4 feet) is reached. It has a long snout and labial folds around his mouth. The triangular teeth smooth edges are similar in both the upper and lower jaw. Atlantic Sharpnose Shark can be brown, olive-gray or blue-gray turning to white at the bottom. Adults may have some white spots and small individuals have a tendency to black lace dorsal and tail fins.

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Tribe: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Carcharhinidae
Genus: Rhizoprionodon
Type: R. terraenovae

The maximum size species of Atlantic Sharpnose Shark the length is about 1.22 meters (about 4 ft). But the average adult Atlantic Sharp Nose appear to be about 99 to 106.7 cm (39-42 inches) in length. They usually mature at between 79-89 cm (31-35 inches) in total length of about 2-4 years old. Atlantic Sharp Nose sharks can live 9-12 years old. Like most sharks, the females appear larger than the males. Reproduction Females give live birth to a litter of 3-7 pups after a gestation period of 10-11 months. The pups are usually born between 25-35 cm (10-14 inches) in total length. Females often found in marine estuaries during late spring months, probably because Pupping area where they bear their young.

Identifying Characteristics of Atlantic Sharpnose Shark

    May have black borders dorsal and caudal fins
    Long labial creases around the corners of mouth
    Nictitating membrane over the eye
    Atlantic Sharpnose Shark Diet
    This shark uses shrimp, mollusks and small fish.

Reproduction Atlantic Sharpnose Shark

Sexual maturity is reached when an individual is about 83 cm (33 inches). The young are fed into the female viviparous development. Litters of 4-7 pups are born in June in shallow water or estuaries. Newborns are 22-35 cm (9-14 inches) in length.

Habitat Atlantic Sharpnose Shark

The Atlantic Milk shark is common in coastal waters at a depth of 12 meters (42 feet) or less during the summer months. During the winter, this shark is found at depths greater than 27 meters (90 feet).

Range Atlantic Sharpnose Shark

Although the scientific name suggests that it can be found off of Newfoundland, the Atlantic Sharpnose Shark not reported in those waters. Indeed, it is not a common shark somewhere in Canadian waters. The northernmost distribution in the Bay of Fundy, and it is rare, even in that area. Frequently this small shark is found in the coastal waters of South Carolina, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico year-round resident.

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Blacktip Shark

Beauty Of Animal | Blacktip Shark |  The blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) is a species of requiem shark, family Carcharhinidae. It is common to coastal tropical and subtropical waters around the world, including brackish habitats. Genetic analyses have revealed substantial variation within this species, with populations from the western Atlantic Ocean isolated and distinct from those in the rest of its range. The blacktip shark has a stout, fusiform body with a pointed snout, long gill slits, and no ridge between the dorsal fins. Most individuals have black tips or edges on the pectoral, dorsal, pelvic, and caudal fins. It usually attains a length of 1.5 m (4.9 ft).



Black tip sharks can be found in both inshore and offshore, but they tend to stay near the coast at depths of 30 m or less external link. They are often seen near river mouths, bays and mangroves, although they do not penetrate deep into fresh water. Black tip shark is found in tropical and subtropical coastal, shelf and the waters of the islands in the Atlantic, where they migrate seasonally between Brazil and Nova Scotia and the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, to across the Mediterranean, and along the central coast of West Africa. In the Pacific they range from southern California to Peru, including the Sea of ​​Cortez, the Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, Tahiti and other South Pacific islands, on the north coast of Australia. In the Indian Ocean, they range from South Africa and Madagascar to the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, across the coast of India, and East to the coast of China.

 

Blacktip shark are strong sharks with a moderately long and pointed snout. The first dorsal fin is slightly posterior to the pectoral fins high on the mid section of the body and has a narrow, pointed tip. This species does not have an inter dorsal ridge. They have dark gray or blue to brown on the dorsal side with a white ventral side and a white band across the flank. The pectoral fins, first and second dorsal fins, pelvic fins, and lower caudal lobe are black tipped, although the dark coloring tends to fade with age. The anal fins of the Blacktip sharp do not have black tips, unlike the similar Spinner shark, which often develops black tips on the anal fin as they mature. Blacktip shark gets its name from its distinctive black markings on the tips of its fins. It is also known as Blackfin, Small blacktip, and Spot-fin ground shark.

Blacktip shark feeds on small schooling fishes such as herring, sardines, menhaden, mullet, and anchovies, but also eats catfishes, groupers, jacks, snook, porgies, grunts, croakers, flatfishes, triggerfish, and porcupine fish. They are known to feed on other elasmobranch species such as dogfish, sharpnose sharks, young dusky sharks, skates, and stingrays. Crustaceans and squids are also prey for blacktip sharks. Like the Spinner shark, Blacktip shark have been observed leaping and spinning out of the water, which is likely a feeding behavior. Blacktips attack schools from below at high speed while snapping their jaws to capture prey. The tiger shark preys on young blacktip sharks.

Blacktip sharks in the Caribbean are a popular tourist attraction during shark feeding dives along with other species such as Caribbean reef sharks. Blacktip sharks is fished commercially by longlines off the southeast coast of the US, and caught as bycatch in fixed bottom nets and in shrimp trawls. The flesh is sold for human consumption and used for fish meal, and the fins are sold for shark fin soup in Asian markets, a product that is decimating shark populations worldwide. The skin is also used for leather.

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Grey Nurse Shark

Beauty Of Animal | Grey Nurse Shark |  Grey nurse shark is also know as Sand tiger shark and Spotted ragged-tooth shark. Grey Nurse Sharks prefer to live in shallow inshore waters. They like to stay in habitats that have sandy-bottomed gutters or rocky caves and are close to inshore rocky reefs or islands. In Australia, grey nurse sharks have been regularly reported from Mooloolaba in southern Queensland, around most of the southern half of the continent (excluding the Great Australian Bight), and northward to Shark Bay in Western Australia. Grey nurse sharks have been recorded as far north as Cairns in the east, the North West Shelf in the west and also in the Arafura Sea. In Australia, they are included as an endangered marine species. 

 

Grey nurse sharks have two large dorsal fins which are of similar size. The tail is distinctive, with the top lobe being larger than the bottom. Their upper body is bronze-coloured, while the underside is paler. They are grey to grey-brown on top, paler underneath and sometimes have reddish or brownish spots on their backs. Juveniles tend to have darker spots on the lower half of their body which fade as they get older. Despite their appearance, Grey nurse sharks are not a threat to divers or swimmers and actually have a very placid nature.The species has a conical snout, long awl-like teeth in both jaws (with single lateral cusplets), similarly sized first and second dorsal fin and an asymmetrical caudal fin. Grey nurse sharks grow to at least 360 cm total length. 

They have large, sharp teeth, but they are not very strong and break easily. Grey nurse sharks is a slow but strong swimmer and is generally more active at night. Grey nurse sharks are more active at night, when they feed upon fish, smaller sharks, rays, squid and crustaceans. Male sharks reach sexual maturity at 4 - 6 years of age, and females at 6 - 8 years. Both males and females mature at about 2.2m and reach a total length of about 3.6m. Pups measure an average of 1m in length at birth.

The breeding of Grey nurse sharks is quite unusual. Mating occurs mainly in autumn and is followed by a 9 - 12 month gestation period, and the young are born in winter. Towards the end of the gestation period, the more fully developed embryos eat the less developed embryos and unfertilized eggs within the female shark’s uterus. As a result, only two pups are produced per litter – one in each uterus. Grey nurse sharks tend to breed only once every two years. This is the lowest reproductive rate of any shark and makes it more susceptible to external pressures that increase mortality

Many sharks lead extremely active lives, so they need an efficient supply  of oxygen to their muscles and organs. Sharks breathe out  oxygen from the water by taking it in through their mouth, allowing it to flow over their gills and then expelling it through their slits. Sluggish, bottom-living species such as Catsharks and Wobbegongs use special muscles to pump water over their gills even while at rest. But fast, highly active species such as Mackerel sharks use their forward motion to force water through their gills; a  process known as ram-jet ventilation. These sharks must keep swimming in order to breathe. Between these extremes are species like the Grey nurse sharks which pump water over its gills at rest, but switches to ram-jet ventilation when swimming to save energy. 

Grey nurse sharks have suffered a decline over recent years which has led to them being listed as “Critically Endangered” under the Commonwealth Government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999). Based on a New South Wales Fisheries survey in 2000, it is thought that the number of Grey Nurse Sharks in New South Wales could be as low as 292.

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Manta Ray

Beauty Of Animal | Manta Ray | Manta ray is the largest and biggest species of the rays.  Manta rays are swim in tropical seas, living both close to shore and in open seas. They can be found throughout tropical waters across the world where they often congregate around coral reefs. They are also called Atlantic manta, Pacific manta, Devilfish, and only Manta. There are few sights more awe inspiring for scuba divers than watching manta rays performing their graceful somersaults. These magnificent creatures are frequently seen feeding alone or in small groups near the surface at Thailand scuba diving sites such as Koh Bon, Komodo and Irian Jaya in Indonesia, the Maldives, Black Rock in Myanmar, Kadavu in Fiji, and other near shore waters near coral and rocky reefs.

Manta rays have graceful pectoral fins like wings. They are easily recognized by their paddle-like cephalic lobes projecting forward from the front of the head (actually extensions of the pectoral fins, supported by radial cartilages), and a very broad, rectangular terminal mouth. Manta rays may have different color from black, grey-blue, to red-brown on the upper surface of their cartilage body, sometimes with white shoulder patches and blotches, and almost pure white on the lower surface of their pectoral fins and body disc. Their body patterns show individual variation and helps identify individuals.

There are also regional differences in Manta ray color patterns. For example, specimens from the eastern Pacific often feature dusky to mostly black under surfaces, while those from the western Pacific are typically snow white underneath. Although it is not difficult to recognise an adult Manta ray, but the juveniles are similar to Mobula rays. Mobula rays are most readily distinguished by the position of the mouth - Mobula rays have sub-terminal mouths (located underneath the head, similar to many sharks), while Manta rays have terminal mouths (located at the front of the head).

Manta rays have about 300 rows of tiny, peg-like teeth, each about the size of the head of a pin. The crown of each tooth has a blunt surface with three weak ridges. These teeth are often indistinguishable from the denticles (scales) inside the mouth and are not used for feeding. They may play a role in Manta courtship and mating. Manta rays eat microscopic plankton, small fish, and tiny crustaceans. They funnel the food into their mouth while they swim, using two large, flap-like cephalic lobes which extend forward from the eyes. Only large warm-water sharks, such as the Tiger Shark are known to prey upon Mantas.

Manta rays are most commonly seen during daylight hours because that's when most observers are most active. We have virtually no idea what Mantas do at night or how active they are. Manta rays courtship seems to feature prolonged chasing, which would be best accomplished in clear, open water during the day. Manta rays may feed most actively at night, when many planktonic creatures rise surfaceward, providing a rich bounty on which Manta rays may feed.

Manta rays are an active swimmer, occupying all parts of the water column, particularly mid water and near surface - whereas bottom dwelling and more sedentary species of rays would be more susceptible to capture by trawl operations. Manta rays may have little affinity for open deep water and prefer areas in contact with coastal or reef/island features, areas where trawlers do not work. While little is known about the current status of manta rays in Australia it is assumed because their distribution appears to cover a broad geographic area and there are few identified threats, that their populations are secure. Manta rays are not currently protected by any fisheries legislation in Australia. 

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Oceanic Whitetip Shark

Beauty Of Animal | Oceanic Whitetip Shark  | The oceanic whitetip shark is a stocky and heavy set animal, up to 4 meters (13 feet) in length, with an enlarged first dorsal fin and large paddle like pectoral fins. The tips of the dorsal fins, caudal lobes and pectoral fins are mottled white on adults while juveniles may also have black marks. However the amount of pigmentation on the fin tips varies and is occasionally completely absent. The rest of the body is dark gray or olive gray in colour. The upper teeth are broad and triangular with serrated edges while the lower teeth have narrow serrated cusps and broad bases.

This species of shark feeds mainly upon fast moving fishes such as tuna, barracuda and white marlin. However it also consumes squid, turtles, seabirds and even garbage that has been disposed of at sea.  The oceanic whitetip shark is viviparous with litters of 5 to 15 pups which are born at a length of 65 to 75 cm (26 to 30 inches). It is believed that litter size increases with the size of the mother. Sexual maturity is reached at approximately 1.8 meters (5.8 feet).

The oceanic whitetip shark is generally found far from shore, from the surface down to a depth of 150 meters (500 feet). This pelagic species is found in water temperatures of 22 degrees Celsius or above. This shark is common in warm oceanic water and occasionally found in coastal areas of the tropics or warm temperate waters.  This shark species is found in the oceanic waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. In the Atlantic it occurs from northeastern Georges Bank, south to the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico to Argentina. The specimens found in and around Canadian waters are at the northern most point of their range.

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Dusky Shark

Beauty Of Animal | Dusky Shark | The dusky shark has a long streamlined body that is brown or gray above and white below. There is a faint lateral stripe that extends to the pelvic fin. Juveniles have a dark colouration on the tip of the caudal fin and the underside of the pectoral fins that is less pronounced in adults. The first dorsal fin is much larger than the second with a dermal ridge found between the two dorsal fins. The upper lobe of the caudal fin is larger than the lower lobe. The pectoral fins are long and curved on the trailing edge. The dusky shark can grow to 4 meters (13 feet) in length. The upper teeth of the dusky shark are broad and triangular with a serrated edge, but while the front teeth are virtually erect, the others are slightly oblique. The lower teeth differ since they have narrow, erect cusps with more finely serrated edges than the upper teeth.

The diet of this shark includes small schooling fish such as sardines and anchovies, as well as larger fish like tuna, mackerel, flatfish and eels. The dusky shark also eats dogfish, catsharks, skates and rays. Females become sexually mature at about 3.0 meters (10 feet), while males become sexually mature at 2.9 meters (9.5 feet). They are viviparous and females give birth to a litter of 6 to 14 pups. After 16 months gestation the pups are delivered at a size of approximately 95 cm (3 feet).

The dusky shark lives in warm temperate continental waters. The specimens captured in Canadian waters were found at a water temperature of 19 degrees Celsius. This shark is found in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. In the western North Atlantic the northern most part of the range is Georges Bank. They continue to be found southward to the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and through to Brazil.

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Sand Tiger Shark

Beauty Of Animal | Sand Tiger Shark | The sand tiger shark has a stout body with two large dorsal fins that are almost equal in size and the first dorsal fin placed far back on the trunk of the body. The tail has an elongated upper lobe and no caudal keel. This shark appears bronze from above but is increasingly paler below. Juveniles have reddish or yellow-brown spots on the tail and rear end of the body that fade with age. 

 

The gill slits are anterior to the origin of the pectoral fins. Large teeth are arranged in three rows on each side of the upper jaw midline. The teeth themselves have long smooth, narrow-edged cusps with one or two small lateral denticles. This shark is able to achieve neutral buoyancy and hover in the water by storing surface air in its stomach. The maximum length attained for the sand tiger shark is 3.2 meters (10.5 feet), although it is generally between 1.2 and 2.7 meters in length. While menacing in appearance, this shark is generally considered to be harmless.

The sand tiger is ovoviviparous, bearing 2 live young after a gestation period of 9 to 12 months; each is approximately 1 meter long. In each of the two separate uterine chambers the first embryo to hatch obtains its food by eating the other developing eggs.    The sand tiger shark is often found in sandy coastal waters, shallow bays, estuaries and rocky or tropical reefs. Although most often found in shallow waters they also swim down to depths of 200 meters.

There have only been three reported sightings of the sand tiger shark in Canadian waters. These sightings were in the Minas Basin of Nova Scotia, near St. Andrews, New Brunswick and off Point Lepreau, New Brunswick. The sand tiger shark also occurs in the eastern and western Atlantic, the Pacific and Indian Oceans and in the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas.

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