Archive for the ELASMOBRANCHS Category

"Lamna nasus" Porbeagle Sharks are closely related to Salmon Sharks measuring up to 3.7 meters in length and weighing up to 230 kilograms. The word "porbeagle" is obscure. A common suggestion is that it combines "porpoise" and "beagle", referencing this shark's shape & tenacious hunting habits. The life span of thisRead more →

"Heterodontus portusjacksoni" The Port Jackson Shark has a blunt head and harness-like markings which cross the eyes, run along the back to the first dorsal fin, then cross the side of the body. This pattern makes it very easy to identify the species. They grow to 1.65 meters in length.Read more →

"Etmopterus perryi” The Dwarf Lantern Shark, the smallest shark in the world is a harmless krill eater just like the Whale Shark, the biggest shark in the world. A major difference is the Whale Shark grows to an average of 41 feet & an average weight ofRead more →

"Carcharhinus longimanus" Oceanic Whitetip Sharks are large stocky sharks with a huge, rounded first dorsal fins and long, wide-tipped pectoral fins. Their snouts are blunt and rounded; their upper teeth are triangular and they have an inter-dorsal ridge. The Oceanic Whitetip Shark's dorsal side (upper) is usually dark gray with a bronzeRead more →

"Manta birostris" The Manta Ray is the largest species of ray in the world with some individuals reaching up to 9 meters wide. It is most commonly found in the warmer, tropical of waters of the world's oceans typically around coral reefs and along the continental shelves. Due to their enormous size, MantaRead more →

"Megachasma pelagios" The Megamouth Shark is one you won’t readily see when you are in the water. As their name implies, a Megamouth has a large mouth with small teeth and a broad, rounded snout. The mouth is surrounded by luminous photophores, which may act as a lure for plankton or smallRead more →

"Torpedo marmorata" The Marbled Electric Ray is usually found on sandy or muddy seabeds at depths between 10-30 meters although in the Mediterranean Sea, it has been recorded at depths down to 100 meters. It feeds by catching bottom-living fish and stunning or killing them with an electric shock beforeRead more →

"Isurus paucus" Longfin Mako Sharks are slender, spindle-shaped sharks with conical snouts. The word "Mako" comes from the Māori language meaning either the shark or a shark tooth. It originated in a dialectal variation as it is similar to the common words for shark in a number ofRead more →

"Triakis semifasciata" Leopard Sharks have short, broadly rounded snouts, their first dorsal fins are moderately large and its origin is over their pectoral fins' inner margins. Their second dorsal fin is nearly as large as the first one (height is about 3/4 of the first dorsal fin) andRead more →

"Negaprion brevirostris"  Lemon Sharks are named for their pale yellow to brown coloring on their dorsal (upper) sides and a lighter yellow on their ventral (lower) sides. The body of the Lemon Shark is large, robust and commonly reaches lengths between 2.4-3 meters with a maximum of 3.2-3.5 meters. The growthRead more →