tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28855352121163093632024-03-19T04:44:36.829-04:00FinformationDelaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725356628531113995noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885535212116309363.post-27473345922943134102016-10-10T11:07:00.001-04:002016-10-10T11:07:07.173-04:00The Development of Great White Shark Embryos<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Check out this fascinating article on the development of white shark embryos!</span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://bio.biologists.org/content/5/9/1211">http://bio.biologists.org/content/5/9/1211</a></span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">(Sato, Keiichi et al. "How Great
White Sharks Nourish Their Embryos to a Large Size: Evidence of Lipid
Histotrophy in Lamnoid Shark Reproduction." <i>Biology Open</i> 5.9
(2016): 1211-215. Web. 22 Sept. 2016.
<http://bio.biologists.org/content/5/9/1211.article-info>.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">For
years, scientists h</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">ave wondered about the reproductive system of <i>Carcharodon carcharias</i>, the white shark.
Matrotrophy (maternal care when in the womb) is common among sharks, and takes
many forms—yolks, histotrophy (where the mother releases a “milk” into the
uterus), and oophagy (where the embryos will prey upon other eggs/embryos in
the uterus). The relatives of the white shark, such as the sand tiger shark’s (<i>Carcharias taurus</i>) reproductive phases
are well known. However, little is known on what forms of matrotrophy white
sharks participate in. When a pregnant white shark was caught in the waters off
Okinawa, Japan, scientists had the opportunity to study the shark’s
reproductive tract. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">There
were three embryos found in both uteruses, and they were all at the same stage
of development. Of the six embryos, none of them still had their external yolk
sac, but there was still evidence that the embryo had yolks at one point. In
both uteruses, there was a viscous, yellow fluid that contained mostly lipids.
This fluid was similar to that of the “uterine milk” some rays produce and is a
form of histotrophic nutrition for the embryos. The young sharks all already
had small but functional teeth. These teeth were likely used to eat the
nutritional eggs released by the mother. Nutritional eggs are undeveloped eggs
that are in the uterus as a nutrition source for the embryos. This is a form of
oophagy. However, most of the eggs hadn’t been eaten yet, suggesting that the
embryos hadn’t entered the oophagy phase of their development.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
<i>in utero</i> nutritional sources of white
shark embryos is now better understood, due all to one individual pregnant
shark. The embryos first rely on their yolks for food. Then, as the yolks run
out, the mother releases a lipid-based “milk” into the uterus that provides
nutrients to the young sharks. Finally, the embryos use their already sharp
teeth to eat the nutritional eggs in the uterus. This is a complex process that
is, as expected, similar to that of the white shark’s relatives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725356628531113995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885535212116309363.post-71402624520687055332016-08-07T15:39:00.003-04:002016-08-07T15:40:53.230-04:00Oceanic Whitetip Shark<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixY-DQNAMCfh2J23XEz8inxbfYPhbEhJOOzgDHTRcjRBMP6dS1UdvCAdB3f_VdqrSj9qdLWSIUeOrmYlBrYFuV_CXKclCHk2C0mp76odw7TieclPOVqpX5xjQvRDR_kJgiJW-16xchHYtq/s1600/owt-4-c.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixY-DQNAMCfh2J23XEz8inxbfYPhbEhJOOzgDHTRcjRBMP6dS1UdvCAdB3f_VdqrSj9qdLWSIUeOrmYlBrYFuV_CXKclCHk2C0mp76odw7TieclPOVqpX5xjQvRDR_kJgiJW-16xchHYtq/s400/owt-4-c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">an oceanic whitetip in the Bahamas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The Oceanic Whitetip Shark<br />
<i>Carcharhinus longimanus</i><br />
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The oceanic whitetip shark is a majestic shark that inhabits the open oceans of the world. One of their claims to fame is the tragedy of the USS Indianapolis. When the ship was sunk on a top-secret mission, less than of a third of the men survived and many deaths were attributed to oceanic whitetip attacks. However, most of the men died from exposure to the elements rather from shark bites. <br />
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<b>Identification:</b><br />
The oceanic whitetip is a grey to brown shark, known for their long, wide pectoral fins with mottled white tips. They have wide, rounded dorsal fins that are also white tipped. Oceanic whitetips have blunt, rounded snouts and small eyes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HZZ_B3MrUEpbfLD7-nvfFPNFlzVSX-PYh7UuWuZBJj6nVJsmTt1-jGGwxjEp6qqLQSZKmd33nFueJyaBT6uBCNcn3mpWnc41BnHn6RyWRug_GrpDwwB__31qRWzBd9YZrT6c9_lPOUYF/s1600/hi_257599.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HZZ_B3MrUEpbfLD7-nvfFPNFlzVSX-PYh7UuWuZBJj6nVJsmTt1-jGGwxjEp6qqLQSZKmd33nFueJyaBT6uBCNcn3mpWnc41BnHn6RyWRug_GrpDwwB__31qRWzBd9YZrT6c9_lPOUYF/s400/hi_257599.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Classification:</b><br />
Kingdom : <i>Animalia</i><br />
Phylum : <i>Chordata</i><br />
Subphylum : <i>Vertebrata</i><br />
Class : <i>Chondrichthyes</i><br />
Subclass : <i>Elasmobranchii</i><br />
Superorder : <i>Selachimorpha</i><br />
Order : <i>Carcharhiniformes</i><br />
Family : <i>Carcharhinidae</i><br />
Genus : <i>Carcharhinus</i><br />
Species : <i>longimanus</i><br />
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<b>Similar Species and Other Family Members:</b><br />
One species similar to the oceanic whitetip is the whitetip reef shark - although it is similar in name and coloration only. The whitetip reef shark (<i>Triaenodon obesus</i>) is a much smaller shark that lives on coral reefs and has a slender body with a very short snout. They are typically dark brown in color with bright white tipped dorsal and caudal fins.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuqQjYbUgZBc3FHng0QORKr9Iv7Qj5gh3TatSLqgslrccv5byWNSifclugerMgH3Xnka-E_9EPhednmgjYEOKyrVbWt_grBkQ02K9vX_HJ4QRHQXLOZOvZAkxGsZI2_PtDoxLXqWNlhCt/s1600/414961_10150889644139316_289950223_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuqQjYbUgZBc3FHng0QORKr9Iv7Qj5gh3TatSLqgslrccv5byWNSifclugerMgH3Xnka-E_9EPhednmgjYEOKyrVbWt_grBkQ02K9vX_HJ4QRHQXLOZOvZAkxGsZI2_PtDoxLXqWNlhCt/s320/414961_10150889644139316_289950223_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Triaenodon obesus</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>Reproduction:</b><br />
The oceanic whitetip is a viviparous shark, meaning it gives placental live birth, just like humans. They tend to have a small amount of pups, around 5 or so per brood.<br />
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<b>Size:</b><br />
Female oceanic whitetips tend to reach about 200 cm (6.5 ft) in length, while males tend to be slightly smaller, reaching around 190 cm (6.2 ft). It is possible that oceanic whitetips could reach up to 350 cm (11.4 ft).<br />
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<b>Diet: </b><br />
Oceanic whitetips feed mainly on pelagic bony fish, such as tuna and dolphin fish. They also eat cephalopods and have been known to eat marine mammals - normally in the form of carrion.<br />
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<b>Teeth & Jaws:</b><br />
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The upper teeth of the oceanic whitetip are broad, triangular, and serrated. The lower teeth are more narrow and pointed. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJHQ5IkFvcSWYooUbumfKuUZRY3tUlWL8u1q4-k2KAbU7dBaMQfn0sU_7Xn55-rC22mFiKJu0BkVtle9BOe6nW8ruAJNZvkvMQM8iZy_npCrRnXsQBOcU9GoSbx783vd1UQKfs6lcTgU3a/s1600/owt2a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJHQ5IkFvcSWYooUbumfKuUZRY3tUlWL8u1q4-k2KAbU7dBaMQfn0sU_7Xn55-rC22mFiKJu0BkVtle9BOe6nW8ruAJNZvkvMQM8iZy_npCrRnXsQBOcU9GoSbx783vd1UQKfs6lcTgU3a/s320/owt2a.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upper tooth</td></tr>
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<b>Habitat and Distribution:</b><br />
Oceanic whitetips are found all over the world in warm temperate and tropical waters. They live almost exclusively in pelagic waters, far off-shore.<br />
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<b>Conservation Status:</b><br />
The oceanic whitetip used to be the most abundant pelagic shark in the world; they are now listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. The sharp decline in their population is due mainly to bycatch in pelagic fishing. They also suffer from heavy overfishing and are prized by shark finners for their large fins.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">sources:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Sharks of North America, </i>Jose I. Castro</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/39374/0</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Sharks of the World, </i>David A. Ebert, Sarah Fowler and Leonard Compagno </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">note: none of the images are mine</span>Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725356628531113995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885535212116309363.post-70583557444665571722016-08-05T11:09:00.000-04:002016-08-05T11:09:13.643-04:00Shark Poster<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDZgGb31NXIndHdGrHuxal-AfCivxlcEir9aoFlxMdIY1AYsAYE_wrQhKN1F0xQyiqU-pF8K3yh8RdteOaKlGCIXJYxElkjAKHNbP3IbzxFgfMUEzoWOuSJswMUIFJiXoevrTBp60p8-Aw/s1600/zooposter.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDZgGb31NXIndHdGrHuxal-AfCivxlcEir9aoFlxMdIY1AYsAYE_wrQhKN1F0xQyiqU-pF8K3yh8RdteOaKlGCIXJYxElkjAKHNbP3IbzxFgfMUEzoWOuSJswMUIFJiXoevrTBp60p8-Aw/s640/zooposter.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Created by Finformation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725356628531113995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885535212116309363.post-62080053068716030442016-08-02T17:01:00.001-04:002016-08-07T15:44:02.023-04:00The Scalloped Hammerhead Shark<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqO2zykP7vhYmFZrH5ZgiV54ILDc9o7hoxfn52rNxBV0eEXRRVSfzGs_FPxCEbQYmvvhuimSwXRaEExuf_pTeMtzud9pJvjEcA9cHLuXU-902qTiBnKzhjENaM9Dof0ILvCmChMB24T-Sc/s1600/sads.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqO2zykP7vhYmFZrH5ZgiV54ILDc9o7hoxfn52rNxBV0eEXRRVSfzGs_FPxCEbQYmvvhuimSwXRaEExuf_pTeMtzud9pJvjEcA9cHLuXU-902qTiBnKzhjENaM9Dof0ILvCmChMB24T-Sc/s320/sads.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo credit : Rafael Pesantes<br />
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<u>The Scalloped Hammerhead</u><br />
<em><u>Sphyrna lewini</u> </em><br />
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The scalloped hammerhead is a very interesting species, as are the rest of the hammerheads. It is also occasionally known as the bronze hammerhead, or the kidney-headed shark. Hammerhead sharks are not normally considered a threat to humans. According to the International Shark Attack Files, from 1580 - 2011, approximately only 15 non-fatal attacks have been recorded, and no fatal attacks have been recorded.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0cET7bwgJWeg0enESKf9CqxEaYWU8PHSX-9thIpjbMgnelvO0f-QyXmFLq0NShaKytLMfv-FlgMYSSyol0vtRMsteov_ZMNbF6Ejj3lf6H7_aUw2S8Wuvd11vzp0L7xmcu5z_GBSrXVM/s1600/scalloped-hammerhead-head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0cET7bwgJWeg0enESKf9CqxEaYWU8PHSX-9thIpjbMgnelvO0f-QyXmFLq0NShaKytLMfv-FlgMYSSyol0vtRMsteov_ZMNbF6Ejj3lf6H7_aUw2S8Wuvd11vzp0L7xmcu5z_GBSrXVM/s320/scalloped-hammerhead-head.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The famous hammer shaped head.</td></tr>
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<b>Identification:</b><br />
The scalloped hammerhead has the infamous hammer shaped head that all hammerheads have. It can be distinguished from other hammerheads by the "scalloped" edge of their head. They have a large, triangular first dorsal fin and a smaller second dorsal fin that is close to the caudal fin. Their coloring ranges from dark olive to brownish gray with a whitish ventral side. The ventral side of the pectoral fins darken with age, sometimes even darkening to black in larger sharks.<br />
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<b>Classification:</b></div>
Kingdom : <i>Animalia</i><br />
Phylum : <i>Chordata</i><br />
Subphylum : <i>Vertebrata</i><br />
Class :<i> Chondrichthyes</i><br />
Subclass : <i>Elasmobranchii</i><br />
Order :<i> Carcharhiniformes</i><br />
Family : <span style="background-color: white;"><i>Sphyrnidae</i></span><br />
Genus : <em>Sphyrna</em><br />
Species : <em>lewini</em><br />
<i><br /></i><b>Similar Species and Other Family Members:</b><br />
The family Sphyrnidae has eight described species, all with unique"hammer" shaped heads. Scalloped hammerheads are most commonly mistaken for the Great Hammerhead (<i>Sphyrna mokarran</i>). However, the great hammerhead is larger and has a shorter head with more square ends.<br />
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<b>Reproduction:</b><br />
Scalloped hammerheads are viviparous, meaning they give placental live birth, like humans do. They tend to have 12-38 pups and typically have a 9-10 month gestation period.<br />
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<b>Size:</b><br />
Scalloped hammerhead are typically between 160-200 cm (5.2-6.5 ft) with the males being smaller than females at maturity. Females can occasionally reach up to 243-365 cm (8-12 ft).<br />
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<b>Diet: </b><br />
The scalloped hammerhead tends to eat bony fish. They also eat invertebrates and other sharks. Hammerheads in general are known for their appetite for rays, including dangerous stingrays.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYl1fHWCzW4V9jvY5SCtQPQIiGp9rr2Pi6m49Q3DuV4JXhrKh70pLkGgVEIdkSG4Vtb6g2kCfvVpZbTwVmdxRggR7lMJyYuvrRYc0TBOWB37VNsFDdpyGBEKcvWAJ7N-LLrhsQ_LSKFgIX/s1600/Scalloped-hammerheads-schooling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYl1fHWCzW4V9jvY5SCtQPQIiGp9rr2Pi6m49Q3DuV4JXhrKh70pLkGgVEIdkSG4Vtb6g2kCfvVpZbTwVmdxRggR7lMJyYuvrRYc0TBOWB37VNsFDdpyGBEKcvWAJ7N-LLrhsQ_LSKFgIX/s400/Scalloped-hammerheads-schooling.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Schooling scalloped hammerheads</td></tr>
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<b>Habitat and Distribution:</b><br />
Scalloped hammerheads are found worldwide in tropical and warm temperate seas. They are unique in that they migrate and school in large groups around sea mounts and islands, most famously around the Cocos Islands and the Galapagos Islands.<br />
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<b>Life Span:</b><br />
Scalloped hammerheads are believed to live up to 35 years.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5FP5WYKLsiRqvkjd3r6PzJ3JHR3MezjwuRricoW69l295pXjNrIrCKY_P8RWXXPI672eOG4-Pu6J7lzTT5dz7s8LJ92qiIUnVGZjQxMGNG6NyJQSs0__bDSSNaeHZGgR78CvYPa3GG88M/s1600/scalloped-hammerhead-fin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5FP5WYKLsiRqvkjd3r6PzJ3JHR3MezjwuRricoW69l295pXjNrIrCKY_P8RWXXPI672eOG4-Pu6J7lzTT5dz7s8LJ92qiIUnVGZjQxMGNG6NyJQSs0__bDSSNaeHZGgR78CvYPa3GG88M/s200/scalloped-hammerhead-fin.jpg" width="197" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The scalloped hammerhead's large fin puts it at <br />
great risk from shark finners. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Conservation Status:</b></div>
On the IUCN Red List, the scalloped hammerhead is listed as endangered worldwide. They are heavily fished around the world, and are commonly hunted for the shark fin soup trade due to the large size of their fins.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">sources:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Shark Handbook, </i>Dr. Greg Skomal</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/39341/0</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Sharks of the World, </i>David A. Ebert, Sarah Fowler and Leonard Compagno </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">note: none of the images are mine, however I did draw the illustrations</span>Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725356628531113995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885535212116309363.post-57975030612341602882015-07-06T23:23:00.000-04:002015-07-09T22:34:43.500-04:00Shortfin Mako Sharks<br />
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The Shortfin Mako Shark<br />
<i>Isurus oxyrinchus </i><i> </i><br />
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The shortfin mako is the worlds fastest shark, clocked at speeds of over 30 mph! They're a powerful species that are known to breach when hunting and when caught by fishermen.<br />
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<b>Identification:</b><br />
Shortfin makos are sleek sharks with very powerful tails. Their dorsal side is a bright metallic blue or purple, with silvery sides that fade to white on the ventral side. They have pointed snout with a U-shaped mouth and dark black eyes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJB-4samgCMK5MRfGIihSCR9vCeRdJZWzV0sJElxf9ZbqzmiIpS13XCyHHk3cCCUzpEUmZ8a3kW1sE6QwWe3A59YBV7I6wxsqiML9zbiGZMQJWCf82jaE8KLyYkU0jSW1HmPuyhfU-MFK/s1600/article-0-15a7f1de000005dc-722_964x442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJB-4samgCMK5MRfGIihSCR9vCeRdJZWzV0sJElxf9ZbqzmiIpS13XCyHHk3cCCUzpEUmZ8a3kW1sE6QwWe3A59YBV7I6wxsqiML9zbiGZMQJWCf82jaE8KLyYkU0jSW1HmPuyhfU-MFK/s400/article-0-15a7f1de000005dc-722_964x442.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mako sharks have long gill slits</td></tr>
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The mako shark has strong and large keels on the caudal peduncle that allow them to swim at great speeds. Their caudal fins are the same size on the top and bottom, which allows them to speed through the water.<br />
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<b>Classification:</b><br />
Kingdom : <i>Animalia</i><br />
Phylum : <i>Chordata</i><br />
Subphylum : <i>Vertebrata</i><br />
Class : <i>Chondrichthyes</i><br />
Subclass : <i>Elasmobranchii</i><br />
Superorder : <i>Selachimorpha</i><br />
Order : <i>Lamniformes</i><br />
Family : <i>Lamnidae</i><br />
Genus : <i>Isurus</i><br />
Species : <i>oxyrinchus</i><br />
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<b>Similar Species and Other Family Members:</b><br />
There is another species of mako shark, the Longfin Mako Shark (<i>Isurus paucus</i>). The longfin mako is similar in appearance to the shortfin mako, only it has longer pectoral fins and larger eyes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2cYuFanq9SdQpbc0KTbSmZMDP3uMaIagB8_G46UfZOT_4qDZcNcGrKa6Bz8LwzzPVCDL2nKj62PQ040ZqdbeeLC9J0VdBLoEPKFzGUscd7S-cd7e8VseEX_I0TevKSFc20_NG-8k8psmH/s1600/Isurus_paucus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2cYuFanq9SdQpbc0KTbSmZMDP3uMaIagB8_G46UfZOT_4qDZcNcGrKa6Bz8LwzzPVCDL2nKj62PQ040ZqdbeeLC9J0VdBLoEPKFzGUscd7S-cd7e8VseEX_I0TevKSFc20_NG-8k8psmH/s320/Isurus_paucus.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isurus paucus</td></tr>
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<b>Reproduction:</b><br />
Mako sharks are viviparous, meaning they give livebirth like humans do. A typical litter of mako shark pups is about 10-18 pups, but litters can range from 4-25 pups. Mako sharks exhibit oophagy, which is where the developing shark pups eat the unfertilized eggs in the womb.<br />
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<b>Size:</b><br />
Male shortfin makos mature at around 195 cm (6.3 ft), while females mature at around 270 cm (8.8 ft). The largest shortfin makos can reach up to 400 cm (approx. 13 ft)<br />
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<b>Diet: </b><br />
Mako sharks eat mainly fish such as bluefish and swordfish. They will also eat other open water sharks like blue sharks. They have even been known to eat marine mammals, including dolphins, porpoises, and seals. Recent studies have found that mako sharks will breach when going after prey, just like white sharks do.<br />
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<b>Teeth & Jaws:</b><br />
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Mako sharks have pointy teeth that are perfect for stabbing into slippery fish. </div>
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Fun Fact! - The teeth of the white shark on the infamous Jaws poster are actually mako shark teeth, as white shark teeth weren't thought to be "intimidating" enough!<br />
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<b>Habitat and Distribution:</b><br />
Mako sharks are mainly pelagic species that live in open water all around the world. While they spend more time in pelagic waters, they do occasionally travel into coastal waters. They're found in temperate and tropical waters worldwide.<br />
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<b>Conservation Status:</b><br />
The shortfin mako is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. They are often caught as bycatch by commercial fishermen, and are fished for their fins like most sharks. One of the largest threats to mako sharks is overfishing by recreational fishermen.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">sources:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Sharks of North America, </i>Jose I. Castro</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/39341/0</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Sharks of the World, </i>David A. Ebert, Sarah Fowler and Leonard Compagno </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">note: none of the images are mine</span>Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725356628531113995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885535212116309363.post-19785639738541986712014-09-27T19:18:00.001-04:002014-10-28T15:40:44.509-04:00Weird Shark Names<br />
Due to the fact that their are over 500 species of sharks, scientists have to get creative in naming the sharks, which leads to some odd names. Here's a few of my favorites.<br />
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Gummy Shark: <i>Mustelus antarcticus</i><br />
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The gummy shark gets its name from its mouth. Due to the fact that it has tiny, plate-like teeth, it looks like it has no teeth - only gums! It resides in Australia and is also known as the Australian Smooth Hound. It can grow to about 1.8 meters/6 feet.<br />
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Pocket Shark: <i>Mollisquama parini</i><br />
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The pocket shark is a small, rare, deep-water species that resides in the southeastern pacific. So little is known about it that we don't know for sure how big it gets.<br />
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Sleeper Sharks: family <i>Somniosidae</i><br />
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The sleeper shark family consists of many deep-water sharks that live around the world, including the Greenland Shark and the Pacific Sleeper Shark. These sharks are scavengers that feed on the sea life that dies and sinks to the bottom of the ocean, and they can grow to be about 6 meters/20 feet long.<br />
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Bonnethead Shark: <i>Sphyrna tiburo</i><br />
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The bonnethead shark is a small hammerhead species that is very common in estuaries. It has a more shovel shaped head than other hammerhead species, and can grow to be about<br />
0.6-0.9 meters/2-3 feet long.<br />
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Wobbegongs: family <i>Orectolobidae </i><br />
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The wobbegong's unique name come from the Australian Aborigine language, and means "shaggy beard", which refers to the sharks tasseled mouth. They can grow to about 1.5 meters/5 feet long on average, and there are twelve species in the <i>Orectolobidae</i> family.</div>
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Crocodile Shark: <i>Pseudocarcharias kamoharai</i></div>
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The crocodile shark is another deep-water species that is rare. They are known for being rather "cute sharks", due to their big eyes and small size (1m/3.3ft)</div>
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Horn Shark: <i>Heterodontus francisci</i></div>
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The horn shark is a member of the bullhead shark family (<i>Heterodontidae</i>). They are small sharks that typically reach 1 meter/3.3 feet in length.<br />
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Bignose Shark: <i>Carcharhinus altimus</i><br />
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The bignose shark is named (obviously) for its large snout. They are related to other common shark species, such as the Bull Shark, Grey Reef Shark, and the Spinner Shark. The bignose shark gets to be about 2.7–2.8 meters/8.9–9.2 feet.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 14px;">note: none of the images are mine</span></div>
Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725356628531113995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885535212116309363.post-8958516467148015602013-08-07T21:14:00.000-04:002015-06-24T10:11:57.343-04:00The Frilled Shark<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozm8smL_pLBooB6SYyw2ZN26LgiB6Kv-N2UAOG-iJEu7ZpBQIvnFyybjt4pGZPVdSaxC1kwHcYz5GAg9_pNh_GTyTsGaTRpk45Y-eM0pYNZWhqvfYmrIdIvX1zXjh_JZJnMDx_PiiFyQQ/s1600/800px-Chlamydoselachus_anguineus_head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozm8smL_pLBooB6SYyw2ZN26LgiB6Kv-N2UAOG-iJEu7ZpBQIvnFyybjt4pGZPVdSaxC1kwHcYz5GAg9_pNh_GTyTsGaTRpk45Y-eM0pYNZWhqvfYmrIdIvX1zXjh_JZJnMDx_PiiFyQQ/s320/800px-Chlamydoselachus_anguineus_head.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The Frilled Shark <br />
<i>Chlamydoselachus anguineus</i><br />
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The frilled shark is a rare deep-water species. It poses no threat to humans due to the fact it lives where it is not likely to encounters people.<br />
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<b>Identification:</b><br />
The frilled shark's most identifiable feature is its long, eel-like body.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE24bed07z64F2HzVz_a2xSGTXRVSHusvx85McgcMOXtKG-AmEK6msKmm7EiyB_RiVkEUVPBal7OrCo5wQb5e7QO1VOqXP3rrcum8ize85YKGseLx9z24dSFLcmZqia8P4bnTr-4Y7q4sY/s1600/800px-Chlamydoselachus_anguineus2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE24bed07z64F2HzVz_a2xSGTXRVSHusvx85McgcMOXtKG-AmEK6msKmm7EiyB_RiVkEUVPBal7OrCo5wQb5e7QO1VOqXP3rrcum8ize85YKGseLx9z24dSFLcmZqia8P4bnTr-4Y7q4sY/s400/800px-Chlamydoselachus_anguineus2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It is dark to light brown with darker fin edges. It has a long lower jaw and an enormous gape. It has six gill slits, the first of which goes continuously underneath the head.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXv6Tct4x4GftgYxNh-uscfYG4FM_paxRLlvDUC74ENepw0Eu6CJDtOkXU3jrOnehyhgs8acar0jxr0TJmmx4gvJHoTeFvbPnGVr98B33V4XzqKt3Gco4PH_BCAw83_gtzHWQ7uuZpK4D/s1600/800px-Frilled_shark_throat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXv6Tct4x4GftgYxNh-uscfYG4FM_paxRLlvDUC74ENepw0Eu6CJDtOkXU3jrOnehyhgs8acar0jxr0TJmmx4gvJHoTeFvbPnGVr98B33V4XzqKt3Gco4PH_BCAw83_gtzHWQ7uuZpK4D/s320/800px-Frilled_shark_throat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Frilled sharks also only have one dorsal fin, located by the base of the caudal fin. Its caudal fin is almost completely an upper lobe.<br />
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<b>Classification:</b><br />
Kingdom : <i>Animalia</i><br />
Phylum : <i>Chordata</i><br />
Subphylum : <i>Vertebrata</i><br />
Class : <i>Chondrichthyes</i><br />
Subclass : <i>Elasmobranchii</i><br />
Order : <i>Hexanchiformes</i><br />
Family : <i>Chlamydoselachidae</i><br />
Genus : <i>Chlamydoselachus</i><br />
Species : <i>anguineus</i><br />
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<b>Similar Species and Other Family Members:</b><br />
There are speculations that the frilled sharks that live in South Africa are a different species, the South African frilled shark.<br />
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<b>Reproduction:</b><br />
Frilled sharks are ovoviviparous. We do not know their age of maturity. Frilled sharks are believed to give birth to 12 young. We do not know the frilled sharks' gestation period, however it has been estimated to a year or more due to the large size of the eggs.<br />
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<b>Size:</b><br />
Male frilled sharks are believed to be sexually mature at 110 cm (3.6 feet), while females are sexually mature at about 135 cm (4.4 feet). The maximum reported length is 196 cm (6.4 feet).<br />
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<b>Diet: </b><br />
Most of what the frilled shark feeds on is unknown. However, we do know that it does eat squid and bony fish.<br />
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<b>Teeth & Jaws:</b><br />
Here is an image of frilled shark teeth. These teeth are perfect for snatching slippery prey, such as squid.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghU89vE-sMA3hJzcB-WoX-3yk3KYgqQUcAI5nUcI6quOBRjsUpRIYCnJgyY9-7V0F-OEJiAR5GuqFrdySqeROUoZTpkLsBuDK_8sH_yAUcc_66497ze9YXgBrXLE2DRpehmBS9IEWBfAK6/s1600/frill-teeth.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghU89vE-sMA3hJzcB-WoX-3yk3KYgqQUcAI5nUcI6quOBRjsUpRIYCnJgyY9-7V0F-OEJiAR5GuqFrdySqeROUoZTpkLsBuDK_8sH_yAUcc_66497ze9YXgBrXLE2DRpehmBS9IEWBfAK6/s1600/frill-teeth.gif" /></a></div>
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<b>Habitat and Distribution:</b><br />
Frilled sharks are found all over the world. They are most common at depths of 50-200 meters (160-660 ft), but they have been found as deep as 1,570 meters (5,150 ft).<br />
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<b>Lifespan:</b><br />
The lifespan is unknown. Since we cannot tag or track these sharks and they do not survive in captivity, we can't tell their life span.<br />
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<b>Conservation Status:</b><br />
According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the frilled shark is near threatened. They are generally a rare species. They are not actively fished, but a regular bycatch in many bottom trawl, midwater trawl, deep-set longline, and deep-set gillnet fisheries.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">sources:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Sharks of North America, </i>Jose I. Castro</span><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frilled_shark"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frilled_shark</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Sharkpedia, </i>DK Publishing </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.elasmo-research.org/education/ecology/deepsea-frilled_shark.htm">http://www.elasmo-research.org/education/ecology/deepsea-frilled_shark.htm</a></span><br />
<a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41794/0"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41794/0</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">note: none of the images are mine</span>Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725356628531113995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885535212116309363.post-22522300798826002932013-04-05T17:27:00.000-04:002014-07-03T22:11:09.412-04:00Another Shark Infographic...Here is another infographic. It has some interesting facts for those of you that want to learn some more shark basics.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1sXzly6EE6ofvVFEIZpD6DNhijHrVFegQ76LkqkRha2ln2k-HS2ooIqPAIKHyDiNRvyjv4sKfCJ6KCL_-475Y_fMPVMHwP09zZiKCy8XquBBBsKxVOYH9FCQ-bGamqRjk8mBtfQyBAaY/s1600/sharks_infographic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1sXzly6EE6ofvVFEIZpD6DNhijHrVFegQ76LkqkRha2ln2k-HS2ooIqPAIKHyDiNRvyjv4sKfCJ6KCL_-475Y_fMPVMHwP09zZiKCy8XquBBBsKxVOYH9FCQ-bGamqRjk8mBtfQyBAaY/s1600/sharks_infographic.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725356628531113995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885535212116309363.post-3692064417043094242013-03-14T19:43:00.000-04:002014-07-03T22:11:42.676-04:00CITES Protects Sharks and Manta Rays<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSel0WycryDsFh9J9leHTiRFEKaJb9RTOAK2KSDF40QFgrFDcdDU8b1dGY3G_dq-MQFOJo9JjE1wdKQHxtbM67p1HEGM8GWNTFhDAejA_0lpHq-81-3fAAosOO7hmxuk7Ar2gHfOwZanic/s1600/Carcharhinus_longimanus_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSel0WycryDsFh9J9leHTiRFEKaJb9RTOAK2KSDF40QFgrFDcdDU8b1dGY3G_dq-MQFOJo9JjE1wdKQHxtbM67p1HEGM8GWNTFhDAejA_0lpHq-81-3fAAosOO7hmxuk7Ar2gHfOwZanic/s400/Carcharhinus_longimanus_1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the oceanic whitetip, one of the newly protected species</td></tr>
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This is big news in the world of sharks and rays conservation! CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), has announced that they have placed 5 endangered sharks and manta rays under CITES control. Under this, the oceanic whitetip (<i>Carcharhinus longimanus</i>), scalloped hammerhead (<i>Sphyrma lewini</i>), great hammerhead shark (<i>Sphyrna mokarran</i>), smooth hammerhead shark (<i>Sphyrna zigaena</i>) and the porbeagle shark (<i>Lamna nasus</i>), are protected, along with the manta ray (<i>Manta birostris</i>). From now on, all of the above species must be harvested with a CITES permit, and evidence must be provided that they are harvested sustainably and legally.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dhRIURxwyrz5nKPp87Qi_05ktQcDemgcUtNV2iVxS-a6v3IJji3vcanai5eymk__OJgCMRutw8aBNAfMGTdL-rE8846nTDD7r0cpKGeT8-4DrGDuafmpk8c2deawMTWA3Vt5UQ9KTdFg/s1600/CITES+Frontpage+Promo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dhRIURxwyrz5nKPp87Qi_05ktQcDemgcUtNV2iVxS-a6v3IJji3vcanai5eymk__OJgCMRutw8aBNAfMGTdL-rE8846nTDD7r0cpKGeT8-4DrGDuafmpk8c2deawMTWA3Vt5UQ9KTdFg/s400/CITES+Frontpage+Promo.png" height="116" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">credit to <a href="http://sharkangels.org/">sharkangels.org</a><br />
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: xx-small;">note: the oceanic white tip picture is not mine. credits to <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carcharhinus_longimanus_1.jpg">http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carcharhinus_longimanus_1.jpg</a></span><br />
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Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725356628531113995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885535212116309363.post-29901588699117163312012-08-08T17:56:00.000-04:002015-06-24T10:13:34.844-04:00The Nurse SharkThe Nurse Shark<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9xxluDhTmhM9kk1UruvEmpoH3WJMiogmf1stRFaH-Jop9mNUL_APr-HJfejiEIgpM2Imz196lKtDYcE7x3tAjtptAQKG44Pgcp1hMq9izqS9V2YuLBjycjuU9rvd1aptXa-NjaHKj3Q4R/s1600/Nurse-shark004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9xxluDhTmhM9kk1UruvEmpoH3WJMiogmf1stRFaH-Jop9mNUL_APr-HJfejiEIgpM2Imz196lKtDYcE7x3tAjtptAQKG44Pgcp1hMq9izqS9V2YuLBjycjuU9rvd1aptXa-NjaHKj3Q4R/s320/Nurse-shark004.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<i>Ginglymostoma cirratum</i><br />
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The nurse shark is a common shark species. It poses no threat to humans unless harassed or threatened.<br />
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<b>Identification:</b><br />
The nurse shark's most identifiable feature are it's conspicuous nasal barbels.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnn2LpEUSJWyP0qauluzz6yA4vnGRcZS3v_hafncO9CAEs641O3F2UIFidHuRffA-cmNLDA5p45u1Vr2nO6UzO-kDqFXLk47FewZC2DM-Cjj5O2ojN6W24PivoqE3vHVotG-DBKzjbry4a/s1600/nurseshark2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnn2LpEUSJWyP0qauluzz6yA4vnGRcZS3v_hafncO9CAEs641O3F2UIFidHuRffA-cmNLDA5p45u1Vr2nO6UzO-kDqFXLk47FewZC2DM-Cjj5O2ojN6W24PivoqE3vHVotG-DBKzjbry4a/s320/nurseshark2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Color is variable, ranging from light yellowish to dark brown. The underside is a whitish-gray color. Neonatal nurse sharks have dark spots to aid camouflage.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr25tFsM_r4yLW5HSCdtqFk0wRAP0CVY1-QOWBn8ZwpJb_lAvO7-lftQJKOPi1flBvjZMHcgpBJOiHr45GNZb4ws5Q5VpESMWTU8y67IcMVIYIiOSlNi2CVsBm-pxUgwAa_JcmK6M1Ah-0/s1600/nursesharkneonate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr25tFsM_r4yLW5HSCdtqFk0wRAP0CVY1-QOWBn8ZwpJb_lAvO7-lftQJKOPi1flBvjZMHcgpBJOiHr45GNZb4ws5Q5VpESMWTU8y67IcMVIYIiOSlNi2CVsBm-pxUgwAa_JcmK6M1Ah-0/s320/nursesharkneonate.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Another way to identify a nurse shark is by its caudal fin, which is almost completely an upper lobe.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjeP37xRnxupzzxNujHWoG7PPL819GEiIxjKFtmQ6dH_zMsu4BPBkDb5xnNHuBG3mZ8_eZ5b7OQKCKTG_7A060JovQaXfJJqlQFcJg5e8adZ-npZHX8rTTJTua0S6eoeC6kpw4ijvd4H8/s1600/sharktailsnurse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjeP37xRnxupzzxNujHWoG7PPL819GEiIxjKFtmQ6dH_zMsu4BPBkDb5xnNHuBG3mZ8_eZ5b7OQKCKTG_7A060JovQaXfJJqlQFcJg5e8adZ-npZHX8rTTJTua0S6eoeC6kpw4ijvd4H8/s320/sharktailsnurse.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Classification:</b></div>
Kingdom : <i>Animalia</i><br />
Phylum : <i>Chordata</i><br />
Subphylum : <i>Vertebrata</i><br />
Class :<i> Chondrichthyes</i><br />
Subclass : <i>Elasmobranchii</i><br />
Order :<i> Orectolobiformes</i><br />
Family : <i>Orectolobidae</i><br />
Genus : <i>Ginglymostoma</i><br />
Species : <i>cirratum</i><br />
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<b>Similar Species and Other Family Members:</b><br />
There are no similar species or any other species in the family.<br />
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<b>Reproduction:</b><br />
Nurse sharks are an ovoviviparous. Male nurse sharks are sexually mature at 10 - 15 years, while females are sexually mature at 15 - 20 years. Nurse sharks give birth to 20 - 30 young about every other year. The gestation period is 5.5 months.<br />
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<b>Size:</b><br />
Males mature at 210 cm (7 feet), while females mature at 240 cm (8 feet). The maximum reported length is 430 cm (14 feet), but most experts agree that 430 cm is an exaggeration. A more realistic size estimate is 270 cm (9 feet).<br />
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<b>Diet: </b><br />
The nurse shark feeds on crabs, lobsters, bivalves, squid, bottom-dwelling fish, octopus, shrimp, sea snails and sea urchins. They will also occasionally feed on stingrays. Most feeding is done at night, as nurse sharks often rest during the day.<br />
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<b>Teeth & Jaws:</b><br />
Here is an image of fossilized nurse shark teeth.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRarVxJplw7H2fp5gmOAsuDVquQSZXLzZs0sTwqwFu1LglY-y2U0MlkaUDOfkCf2okmA3vO3Xic7_qq4uwNNzSxQ1z61WzpLWdOY0CpCivf1OIbTz2eYYzOa1aG43a2Z9MRG_08LQPzXm/s1600/micros+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRarVxJplw7H2fp5gmOAsuDVquQSZXLzZs0sTwqwFu1LglY-y2U0MlkaUDOfkCf2okmA3vO3Xic7_qq4uwNNzSxQ1z61WzpLWdOY0CpCivf1OIbTz2eYYzOa1aG43a2Z9MRG_08LQPzXm/s320/micros+013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Habitat and Distribution:</b><br />
Nurse sharks live on reefs and are found all throughout Atlantic reefs. They are found in tropical and sub-tropical waters of the east coast of the Americas and the west coast of Africa. This species is abundant all year long in Florida and the Caribbean. <br />
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<b>Life Span:</b><br />
The life span in the wild is unknown, but the oldest shark in captivity reached an age of 25 years.<br />
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<b>Conservation Status:</b><br />
According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the nurse shark is data deficient, meaning there is not enough data to determine a conservation status.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">note: none of the images are mine</span>Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725356628531113995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885535212116309363.post-72788100963531538782012-06-25T14:25:00.000-04:002014-07-03T22:12:25.304-04:00Shark Classification<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Here is a quick thing on shark classification</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Kingdom- <i style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Animalia</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Phylum- </span><i style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Chordata</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Subphylum- </span><i style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Vertebrata</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Class- </span><i style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Chondrichtyes </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; text-align: -webkit-auto;">(cartilaginous fish)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Subclass-<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><i style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Elasmobranchii</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> (upper jaw that is not fused to the braincase, no swim bladder, advanced electroreceptive system, a spiracle, skin with placoid scales, teeth modified placoid scales, and 5-7 separate slit-like gill openings on each side of the body: there are about 600 species of sharks, skates, and rays)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Subclass- </span><i style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Plagiostomi</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> (sharks and rays: upper jaw hung from skulls and different kind of blood)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Superorder- </span><i style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Selachimorpha </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; text-align: -webkit-auto;">(sharks: free upper eyelids, gill openings on the head, and pectoral fins separate from the side of the head)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Orders- Living sharks are split into 8 orders.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAb4r0HUuZ1LpiQ8AuDnFpKjUaO7fp2r56b6-jaZklLpqqq191_k4lMtVNVisYACy28A3ZgvChbxZRCX7BiOGD5DREjMqIlFJcXm9usZglodjIemsR7MWJEK5gLJ0p9P_4m87YoVuzSPJ/s1600/FotoFlexer_Photo+sharkclassificationforblogeasytoread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAb4r0HUuZ1LpiQ8AuDnFpKjUaO7fp2r56b6-jaZklLpqqq191_k4lMtVNVisYACy28A3ZgvChbxZRCX7BiOGD5DREjMqIlFJcXm9usZglodjIemsR7MWJEK5gLJ0p9P_4m87YoVuzSPJ/s400/FotoFlexer_Photo+sharkclassificationforblogeasytoread.jpg" height="299" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">Shark Orders</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</span></div>
Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725356628531113995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885535212116309363.post-20915525431999022892012-02-24T10:29:00.000-05:002014-07-03T22:12:48.886-04:00Who has More to Fear: Sharks or Humans?Here is a quick graphic on the truth about the shark human relationship. You'll be surprised at the numbers.....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonnMg3aDB8j4m4r96zUnBZOKtn9sdXOUgGKVtc3Q4qEOWvBUxNv6KUmg2Ty0_M1I289NFm12v-VUGq-Ye0-1Ocb-YIWilxoHOLpZHyBGZVhw83pthGZ0LjsObNVObBVF-MSB771JqIUUn/s1600/FotoFlexer_Photo+shark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonnMg3aDB8j4m4r96zUnBZOKtn9sdXOUgGKVtc3Q4qEOWvBUxNv6KUmg2Ty0_M1I289NFm12v-VUGq-Ye0-1Ocb-YIWilxoHOLpZHyBGZVhw83pthGZ0LjsObNVObBVF-MSB771JqIUUn/s1600/FotoFlexer_Photo+shark.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: Surfmeisters.com</span>Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725356628531113995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885535212116309363.post-31372743492817711262011-12-19T15:05:00.002-05:002015-06-24T10:14:07.797-04:00Zebra SharkThe Zebra Shark<br />
<i>Stegostoma fasciatum</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviO3Ujfz4VBMSQ2wIbD_Y7FKP9uM1wV_PNEKbpDdvsFZ7gix03Ex0Z4TEE509b_uXfhyphenhyphenbDAKFFO0AWff9w5jd9ozpaCoyTrcZ4yMrt1Uv-kajJj8PL2tEEBitqPXYn1ia8Pejui7qzqCC/s1600/mba_wallpaper_1024_zebra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviO3Ujfz4VBMSQ2wIbD_Y7FKP9uM1wV_PNEKbpDdvsFZ7gix03Ex0Z4TEE509b_uXfhyphenhyphenbDAKFFO0AWff9w5jd9ozpaCoyTrcZ4yMrt1Uv-kajJj8PL2tEEBitqPXYn1ia8Pejui7qzqCC/s320/mba_wallpaper_1024_zebra.jpg" width="320" /></a>The zebra shark is know for its beautiful markings. There are no attacks on humans by a zebra shark on record.<br />
<br />
<b>Identification:</b><br />
The easiest way to identify a zebra shark is by its unique markings. When it is young it has striped markings (hence the name zebra shark). As they get older, the stripes break into spots. Sometimes the spots will make the outline of the stripes, such as in the picture above. The coloration in juveniles is dark brown with tan or pale yellow stripes. Adult coloration is tan to pale yellow with black to dark brown spots. The zebra shark has 5 gills on each side. It has a broad elongated upper lobe of the caudal fin, and almost no lower lobe. It has small eyes and a small mouth with barbels on both sides of its mouth.<br />
<br />
<b>Classification:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: #1c1c1c; color: #00d4ff; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Kingdom: </span><i style="background-color: #1c1c1c; color: #00d4ff; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Animalia</i><br />
<span style="background-color: #1c1c1c; color: #00d4ff; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Phylum: </span><i style="background-color: #1c1c1c; color: #00d4ff; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Chordata</i><br />
<span style="background-color: #1c1c1c; color: #00d4ff; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Subphylum: </span><i style="background-color: #1c1c1c; color: #00d4ff; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Vertebrata</i><br />
<span style="background-color: #1c1c1c; color: #00d4ff; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Class: </span><i style="background-color: #1c1c1c; color: #00d4ff; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Chondrichtyes</i><br />
<span style="background-color: #1c1c1c; color: #00d4ff; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Subclass: </span><i style="background-color: #1c1c1c; color: #00d4ff; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Elasmobranchii</i><br />
<span style="background-color: #1c1c1c; color: #00d4ff; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Order: </span><i style="background-color: #1c1c1c; color: #00d4ff; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Orectolobiformes</i><br />
Family: <i>Stegostomatidae</i><br />
Genus: <i>Stegostoma</i><br />
Species: <i>fasciatum</i><br />
<br />
<b>Similar Species and Other Family Members:</b><br />
The zebra shark is the sole member of the <i>Stegostomatidae </i>family. This shark is very distinctive, but as it is sometimes called a leopard shark, it is often confused with a cold water species which is also called the leopard shark (<i>Triakis semifasciata).</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<b>Reproduction:</b><br />
The zebra shark is oviparous (lays eggs). They will lay one to four eggs a brood. Their size at birth is around 25 centimeters (9.8 inches).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgjAdyJC7NF5ZWnsp3DiOIFoZ8N4AMJ3e-TaomTkXqeExweEKMlfhk3dOmnjXuB1U0ZUvhF6fKIQv0_G-kf0Y1NSMqon9yJsPKFqYNBC0_ug7AskDa0sSd3Bth4Re0LKqxgulO5WWG5Fe/s1600/zebra-shark-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgjAdyJC7NF5ZWnsp3DiOIFoZ8N4AMJ3e-TaomTkXqeExweEKMlfhk3dOmnjXuB1U0ZUvhF6fKIQv0_G-kf0Y1NSMqon9yJsPKFqYNBC0_ug7AskDa0sSd3Bth4Re0LKqxgulO5WWG5Fe/s320/zebra-shark-large.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A young zebra shark</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Size:</b><br />
The maximum length of the zebra shark is 350 cm (11.5 feet).<br />
<br />
<b>Diet:</b><br />
The zebra shark feeds on shellfish, crustaceans, and small fishes.<br />
<br />
<b>Teeth:</b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSq4MVsaI6rDq9jTLzQm-F6gXsB9qQ4roR7aBX3SpR8Bh6vn9-sRa-WGH5X0-8zU3iPcn1LjAaek9PfZy5a8jWw45SB6L7iyYWlXapDe9jkaCgkVTpthOtsBElSf1KYiWCzlqeaUMZmmA/s1600/SharkID-Zebra-Shark-teeth-168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSq4MVsaI6rDq9jTLzQm-F6gXsB9qQ4roR7aBX3SpR8Bh6vn9-sRa-WGH5X0-8zU3iPcn1LjAaek9PfZy5a8jWw45SB6L7iyYWlXapDe9jkaCgkVTpthOtsBElSf1KYiWCzlqeaUMZmmA/s200/SharkID-Zebra-Shark-teeth-168.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zebra shark jaws</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Habitat and Distribution:</b><br />
The zebra shark lives in the warm waters of the tropical western Pacific and Indian Ocean.<br />
<br />
<b>Life Span:</b><br />
The zebra shark's life span is believed to reach up to 30 years in the wild. The longest known life span in captivity is 25 years.<br />
<br />
<b>Conservation Status:</b><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">The zebra shark is listed as vulnerable.</span><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dytVA75IsG7TS4iL3JEUxEWJmEzt0LZzrmq6eIFxDT4YHNqxCnTLOk7FiKasQphvD--WEgbJvTX5dHHsYUhwA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
A video of a zebra shark I took at<br />
Discovery Cove.<br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Note: I do not own any of the still images. </span>Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725356628531113995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885535212116309363.post-46828439051550090662011-12-09T14:04:00.000-05:002011-12-09T14:04:15.224-05:00The Whale Shark<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_BV1-JFEb_6FqjuDlg1g32KJNw73OH3R4ereIJPUseEShb7jy5GYVjkn6n1gOy0zH-ZSYtOacdtyVWY_E1JXym3D49o6XuLLUG0YXf6N4oRVRkz7EmLeXP5_o2dg1k8QDq2YlE5cRQX_/s1600/Whale-Shark-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_BV1-JFEb_6FqjuDlg1g32KJNw73OH3R4ereIJPUseEShb7jy5GYVjkn6n1gOy0zH-ZSYtOacdtyVWY_E1JXym3D49o6XuLLUG0YXf6N4oRVRkz7EmLeXP5_o2dg1k8QDq2YlE5cRQX_/s400/Whale-Shark-01.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whale shark (<i>Rhincodon typus) </i>with a diver</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The Whale Shark is the worlds largest shark. It will occasionally hit a diver with its tail on accident, but other than that it is mostly harmless to humans.<br />
<br />
<b>Identification:</b><br />
The easiest way to identify a whale shark is by its massive size. It is the largest fish in the ocean. It has dark greenish to brownish gray skin covered with white or yellowish spots and irregular dark and light bars. It has a huge mouth that can reach 4 feet (1.4 meters) wide. The mouth is in front of the head, instead of below the head like it is in most sharks. It has 5 gills and small eyes.<br />
<br />
<b>Classification:</b><br />
Kingdom: <i>Animalia</i><br />
Phylum: <i>Chordata</i><br />
Subphylum: <i>Vertebrata</i><br />
Class: <i>Chondrichtyes</i><br />
Subclass: <i>Elasmobranchii</i><br />
Order: <i>Orectolobiformes</i><br />
Family: <i>Rhincodontidae</i><br />
Genus: <i>Rhincodon</i><br />
Species:<i> typus</i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
<b>Similar Species and Other Family Members:</b><br />
The whale shark is the only member of the family <i>Rhincodontidae. </i> Its massive size and striking markings make it easy to distinguish from other sharks.<br />
<br />
<b>Reproduction:</b><br />
The whale shark is ovovi<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">viparous (the eggs are nourished by a yolk, but the mother keeps them inside her body until they run out of food from the yolk and then they are born live). Their size at birth is 21 to 25 inches (55 to 64 centimeters). Whale sharks are sexually mature at 30 years. It is thought that one brood can contain up to 300 young!</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nAJvgp69DIH8ZOzfBZjI1P2IpsIEBsvoPrzbFrGN9wTncnSFNhKzda0c1AKRKu5MD3ClFk8Bvv69xcyV8JPh2uQni4N5AwfcypRVfRnD5LzDsZawZPTNIeH0gztdxFKQ2mYrE4u6XrL1/s1600/090309-smallest-whale-shark-baby_big.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nAJvgp69DIH8ZOzfBZjI1P2IpsIEBsvoPrzbFrGN9wTncnSFNhKzda0c1AKRKu5MD3ClFk8Bvv69xcyV8JPh2uQni4N5AwfcypRVfRnD5LzDsZawZPTNIeH0gztdxFKQ2mYrE4u6XrL1/s320/090309-smallest-whale-shark-baby_big.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A man holding a young whale shark.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Size:</b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">The whale shark can reach lengths of up to 45 feet ( 13.7 meters)! It can weigh up to 30 tons (33 metric tons).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><b>Diet:</b> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> The whale shark lives mainly on plankton, but will also eat small squids and bony fishes.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><b>Teeth:</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Here is a good image of whale shark teeth. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxAuKmLXUybQZvbi-bt8fmLxePKX9jyB-YVsL_T1cUqzqlfyIGbqXswrFJHbe975Q4c5g7lHolXFvGFaa0wY_EVSvu8xvHmkQC7MByTYvEFMoDSe3ne4TcWGTY53JKKsRjNSXapG6aPYs/s1600/whalesharkteeth_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxAuKmLXUybQZvbi-bt8fmLxePKX9jyB-YVsL_T1cUqzqlfyIGbqXswrFJHbe975Q4c5g7lHolXFvGFaa0wY_EVSvu8xvHmkQC7MByTYvEFMoDSe3ne4TcWGTY53JKKsRjNSXapG6aPYs/s200/whalesharkteeth_sm.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Habitat and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Distribution</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">:</span></span></span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Whale sharks are found in warm waters all around the world. They are not, however, found in the Mediterranean Sea. Large populations of whale sharks are often found near Ningaloo Reef, Australia.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><b>Life Span:</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">The whale shark may live up to 150 years.</span><br />
<b style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</b><br />
<b style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Conservation Status:</b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">The whale shark is now listed as a threatened species.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">note: I do not own any of these pictures</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #1c1c1c; color: #00d4ff; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span>Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725356628531113995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885535212116309363.post-46026987686603687352011-12-08T18:47:00.004-05:002015-06-24T10:15:39.761-04:00The Goblin Shark<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-8e_eF56H7gXKiD1ZCmkOY_lVOkhl0ZS6ALPD2vdjaIv9lGEDilUX3-_eaqC-j0tZmfnWBzsKdnrFMzd__B0lihwRs5ndbcPZBKQoP2OZn6OPVCng9tovegZRuxiF6BKhRfGiPJmo6vg/s1600/goblin_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-8e_eF56H7gXKiD1ZCmkOY_lVOkhl0ZS6ALPD2vdjaIv9lGEDilUX3-_eaqC-j0tZmfnWBzsKdnrFMzd__B0lihwRs5ndbcPZBKQoP2OZn6OPVCng9tovegZRuxiF6BKhRfGiPJmo6vg/s1600/goblin_1.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goblin shark with jaw protruding.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCoM88UaiayBXyOMmvfDK_R3W2zRVJU84FpvKoI4bTiwfByo9iPw71qUt2AhUmsl_uBzmya8MuNAUQxoT4DqWXGkfohw1clYxgPZ2u6eSN3cRj-a05l55y6oJSI13YZ5ZRznZebyv-6KP/s1600/goblin_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCoM88UaiayBXyOMmvfDK_R3W2zRVJU84FpvKoI4bTiwfByo9iPw71qUt2AhUmsl_uBzmya8MuNAUQxoT4DqWXGkfohw1clYxgPZ2u6eSN3cRj-a05l55y6oJSI13YZ5ZRznZebyv-6KP/s1600/goblin_2.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goblin shark with jaw in normal position.</td></tr>
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Common name:<br />
Goblin Shark.<br />
Scientific name:<br />
<i> Mitsukurina owstoni</i><br />
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The goblin shark is a very rare, deep water specimen. It is not a threat to humans, since it lives at depths that humans can only visit via submarine.<br />
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<b>Identification:</b><br />
This unmistakable shark's most recognizable feature is its long, paddle-like snout. The snout's use is unknown, but some scientists believe it allows the shark to have more ampullae of Lorenzini, therefore making its sense of electroreception stronger. Goblin shark juveniles are white to pinkish light gray dorsally and white below. Adults are pink to light tan, and preserved specimens are gray. The jaw is able to protrude very far. Their skin is soft and flabby. Goblin sharks have 5 gills on each side, two dorsal fins, no fin spines, no nictitating membranes, and their mouths are behind their eyes.<br />
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<b>Classification:</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc35R0f-EvYgNXAvWI32HRtlIMU7AqdHXQE1EPr48xj3z3fFV4xwCMwpMv1UFeEinfJkXdZmiOys1-XRs4X1p0AZJkk2gU1snoWBAAQ9AdGtxtfL_dYfL5PedzTjIg72pZJIcsMz1Qeklc/s1600/goblin-shark-illustration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc35R0f-EvYgNXAvWI32HRtlIMU7AqdHXQE1EPr48xj3z3fFV4xwCMwpMv1UFeEinfJkXdZmiOys1-XRs4X1p0AZJkk2gU1snoWBAAQ9AdGtxtfL_dYfL5PedzTjIg72pZJIcsMz1Qeklc/s200/goblin-shark-illustration.jpg" width="200" /></a>Kingdom : <i>Animalia</i><br />
Phylum : <i>Chordata</i><br />
Subphylum : <i>Vertebrata</i><br />
Class :<i> Chondrichthyes</i><br />
Subclass : <i>Elasmobranchii</i><br />
Order : <i>Lamniformes</i><br />
Family : <i>Mitsukurinidae</i><br />
Genus : <i>Mitsukurina</i><br />
Species : <i>owstoni</i><br />
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<b>Similar Species and Other Family Members:</b><br />
The goblin shark is the only member of the <i>Misukurinina</i>, and their are no other species similar to it.<br />
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<b>Reproduction:</b><br />
Very little is known about this subject when it comes to goblin sharks. They are believed to be ovoviviparous (the eggs are nourished by a yolk, but the mother keeps them in her body till they run out of food from the yolk and then they are born live).<br />
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<b>Size:</b><br />
Goblin sharks are thought to grow from 6 to 15 feet (180 to 450 cm) long. They may reach over 400 pounds (180 kilograms) in weight.<br />
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<b>Diet:</b><br />
Very little is known on this subject, but we do know they will eat bony fish, squid, and crustaceans. We do not yet know of anything else they will eat.<br />
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<b>Teeth & Jaws:</b><br />
Here is a good illustration of a goblin shark tooth.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfDQR8nf5rG0_efpzmA8rPUgkqv7Lpgfdu-dUxuNTLD8NRRiVMQy32e61ZZiL5QtDHr-6e6oV4p92FuYr701AtENPjAbVbiDEgJOV0S4-EncDhJYuR7P2xCePGdVp95lIQYBY5ECHpJpY/s1600/FotoFlexer_Photo+goblin+tooth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfDQR8nf5rG0_efpzmA8rPUgkqv7Lpgfdu-dUxuNTLD8NRRiVMQy32e61ZZiL5QtDHr-6e6oV4p92FuYr701AtENPjAbVbiDEgJOV0S4-EncDhJYuR7P2xCePGdVp95lIQYBY5ECHpJpY/s1600/FotoFlexer_Photo+goblin+tooth.jpg" /></a></div>
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When a goblin shark bites prey, it's jaw protrudes out. This gif shows this action excellently.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieaMtLm7nlnBxxwfQRTY3V2-IZX4nb5San6nih29qJYTgIQVU6cSwvaYjk6i4HcEThlbs2goyVTzV9vfVDboLZbuaFK-XT89_RK1Po79C18LASy97y5csFsmadhjIcLhm3WlxQNNISVK99/s1600/1241262058_how-sharks-teeth-works.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieaMtLm7nlnBxxwfQRTY3V2-IZX4nb5San6nih29qJYTgIQVU6cSwvaYjk6i4HcEThlbs2goyVTzV9vfVDboLZbuaFK-XT89_RK1Po79C18LASy97y5csFsmadhjIcLhm3WlxQNNISVK99/s320/1241262058_how-sharks-teeth-works.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Habitat and Distribution:</b><br />
The goblin shark is a deep water species, found at depths of up to 3,940 feet (1,200 meters). It is found in the western Pacific Ocean, the western Indian Ocean, and the western and eastern Atlantic Ocean.<br />
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<b>Life Span:</b><br />
No one knows the life span of the goblin shark.<br />
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<b>Conservation Status:</b><br />
Data deficient.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">note: I do not own any of these pictures. </span>Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725356628531113995noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885535212116309363.post-40877341972948940482011-12-02T17:41:00.003-05:002011-12-08T18:46:45.442-05:00Save the Sharks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWak-KC4ppKacJH4pPEhJLD267ak4eKnZmZHGnPCqRsiDyvcEbZCqi0aoPYNDBonwaQcNuzexRCdu7ryhU_TtteArUKJO0EUVkSWiLCA1bB4Xz-2y5CeEHEneO5A1YwSrv6uCi_XPU1EB/s1600/shark-fins-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWak-KC4ppKacJH4pPEhJLD267ak4eKnZmZHGnPCqRsiDyvcEbZCqi0aoPYNDBonwaQcNuzexRCdu7ryhU_TtteArUKJO0EUVkSWiLCA1bB4Xz-2y5CeEHEneO5A1YwSrv6uCi_XPU1EB/s320/shark-fins-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Right now, you're probably thinking, "Why should we bother saving sharks? They are mindless killing machines, out to hunt us." That's not true. Sharks are dangerous, that is true. But so are big cats. They are both smart, deadly, and dangerous predators. Most often the cause of a shark bite is that they are trying to see if we are edible. When they realize we aren't dinner, they swim away to find something else. Sharks are naturally curious but they, unlike humans, don't have hands to feel so they use their mouth. Unfortunately a small bite from a big shark can be deadly. But don't let this keep you out of the water! In truth, you are more likely to die from food poisoning than from a shark attack!<br />
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Now let's talk about how sharks help us. Without sharks, the ocean would be a big mess. Sharks eating carcasses helps keep the oceans carrion free and their hunting helps prevent over population. If, for example, white sharks went extinct. The seal colonies wouldn't have as many predators, so they would start to grow. Interbreeding and cramped spaces would cause illness. The sharks would have normally picked of the sick ones. Slowly the seals would eat all the available food and the chain of events would cause the food web to fall apart.<br />
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Okay, now that we have established why we need to save sharks, what exactly do we need to save them from? The simple answer to that is humans. While sharks kill at the most 100 people a year, we kill over 7 million sharks a year! Sharks are apex predators so their slow reproductive rates can't keep up with this massive slaughter. Some sharks are killed for their jaws, liver oil, skin, teeth, and meat, most are killed for shark fin soup. This delicacy is most popular in China and Japan. It can cost up to 100 dollars a bowl! This soup is viewed as a social status; if you can afford it you are upper class. I have heard it isn't even that good!<br />
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To get the fins, finning vessels go out to sea and capture any shark they can. Then they cut the fins off of the shark, sometimes while it is still alive and then throw the shark back into the ocean to die. This is a truly barbaric practice.<br />
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Sharks have been around since before the dinosaurs. There is no need for them to disappear for soup!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">note: I do not own any of these pictures.</span>Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725356628531113995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885535212116309363.post-77554155836271440152011-05-06T11:42:00.002-04:002011-12-08T14:16:09.088-05:00Shark Basics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGO_JaIVG0pzVTajqh_VCGioPzjj9czkOchJtETIKkDwmmGmty1dCU1oW8N2q5iJtWncl0LTTiTv7R9sax9Fp2ig2RZA44V81NeLZTY26q1kCpXPGxT3dq6i7AkCrAdmyJHcKO7vY9vxqs/s1600/sharks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGO_JaIVG0pzVTajqh_VCGioPzjj9czkOchJtETIKkDwmmGmty1dCU1oW8N2q5iJtWncl0LTTiTv7R9sax9Fp2ig2RZA44V81NeLZTY26q1kCpXPGxT3dq6i7AkCrAdmyJHcKO7vY9vxqs/s320/sharks.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Shark. A name that sends most people running, or swimming, for cover. But, what exactly <i>is</i> a shark?<br />
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<b><i>Are sharks fish? Do they have bones?</i></b><br />
Sharks are fish and they are in the cartilaginous fish family, a.k.a the Chondrichtyes. This means that, instead of bones, sharks have cartilage for every "bone" in their body except their teeth and jaws. Other members of the class Chondrichthyes are the rays, skates, and chimaeras.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">How many types of sharks are there?</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>There are eight orders of sharks. The Hexanchiformes, the Squaliformes, the Pristiophoriformes, the Squantiniformes, the Heterodontiformes, the Orectolobiformes, the Lamniformes, and the Carcharhiniformes. In total, there is believed to be over 400 shark species.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6adaqgD_F1X2ycVd-MGBmdMqpqANzkjE7zTsNWjpa_GOZQrGyRTFqdnKgHfUTQXYGtppBjNT4k-PpkyCjUMhjpR_raqX-oOfC7GqIQaqdSFHXe5TsVCkBCB_rVR2rcusdm5rUjCuzN_F/s1600/FotoFlexer_Photo+sharkclassificationforblogeasytoread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6adaqgD_F1X2ycVd-MGBmdMqpqANzkjE7zTsNWjpa_GOZQrGyRTFqdnKgHfUTQXYGtppBjNT4k-PpkyCjUMhjpR_raqX-oOfC7GqIQaqdSFHXe5TsVCkBCB_rVR2rcusdm5rUjCuzN_F/s400/FotoFlexer_Photo+sharkclassificationforblogeasytoread.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A chart of all shark orders.</td></tr>
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</i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>How long have sharks been around?</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fossil records show that sharks have been swimming in the seas for over 400 million years. That's about 175 million years before the dinosaurs! Since then the basic shark design has barely changed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><b>How long do sharks live?</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some sharks are so rare or just cannot be kept in captivity long enough that their longevity is still unknown. Their longevity also depends on the species of shark. Some sharks such as the smooth dogfish (<i>Mustelus canis</i>) may only live 16 years, where as the porbeagle shark (<i>Lamna nasus</i>) may live as long as 46 years. The whale shark (<i>Rhincodon typus</i>) is thought to live to 100 years.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><b>What does shark skin feel like?</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Shark skin feels exactly like sandpaper. It is made up of tiny teeth-like structures called placoid<b> </b>scales, also known as dermal denticles.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>Do sharks sleep?</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was once believed that sharks had to keep swimming to breath and could not sleep for more than a few minutes at a time. While some sharks <i>do</i> need to keep swimming, some species, such as the nurse shark (<i>Ginglymostoma cirratum)</i> use spiracles to force water over their gills allowing for stationary rest. Sharks do not sleep like humans, instead they have active and restful periods.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>Can sharks hear?</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sharks have an excellent sense of hearing, though you can't see their ears since they have inner ears instead of big, non-streamlined, outer ears like humans have.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>How many teeth do sharks have?</i></b> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sharks can have up to 7 rows of teeth in their mouth at any one time. This is so they can lose a tooth and one will be right there to take its place. This way the shark is always ready to attack.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>What is "electroreception"?</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Electroreception is the sharks sixth sense. It's also the rarest animal sense. Only sharks and the duck-billed platypus of Australia are thought to have this sense. Here's how it works: All organs emit electrical signals. Sharks have special organs called the ampullae of Lorenzini that can detect these electrical signals. This allows sharks to pinpoint and locate the electric field- even if it's coming from an animal buried motionless on the seabed. The ampullae are delicate, jelly-filled pores on the snout. They are so sensitive they can detect electrical fields of one hundred-millionth of a volt.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hope that answered all your sharky questions!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b> </b> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">note: I do not own any of these pictures.</span></div>Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725356628531113995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885535212116309363.post-33127821557323015712011-05-02T14:47:00.000-04:002011-05-02T18:51:14.907-04:00Items Found in the Stomachs of Tiger SharksThis is a list of items which have been found in Tiger Shark stomachs.<br />
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<ul><li>aluminum foil</li>
<li>aluminum soft-drink cans</li>
<li>armor</li>
<li>bag of money</li>
<li>bag of potatoes</li>
<li>beer bottles</li>
<li>black cat</li>
<li>boat cushions</li>
<li>boots</li>
<li>brass casing from a 18-pound (8-kilogram) shell</li>
<li>burlap sacks</li>
<li>cattle bones and hooves</li>
<li>chicken coop</li>
<li>chickens</li>
<li>cigarette tin</li>
<li>conch shells and opercula</li>
<li>cows</li>
<li>deer antlers</li>
<li>driftwood</li>
<li>driver's license</li>
<li>dogs</li>
<li>donkey parts</li>
<li>drums</li>
<li>empty wallet</li>
<li>explosives</li>
<li>fabrics</li>
<li>finger ring</li>
<li>grass</li>
<li>head and forequarters of a crocodile</li>
<li>hind legs of sheep</li>
<li>horse parts</li>
<li>horseshoe crab</li>
<li>human parts </li>
<li>hyenas</li>
<li>jellyfish</li>
<li>leather</li>
<li>license plates</li>
<li>mass of tangled hair</li>
<li>monkeys</li>
<li>mutton birds</li>
<li>nails</li>
<li>nuts and bolts</li>
<li>nuts</li>
<li>oceanographer drift marker</li>
<li>old pants</li>
<li>oral contraceptive dispenser</li>
<li>overcoat</li>
<li>pair of shoes</li>
<li>paper</li>
<li>pelicans</li>
<li>pieces of coal</li>
<li>pig parts</li>
<li>pigs</li>
<li>plastic bags</li>
<li>rags</li>
<li>raincoat</li>
<li>rats</li>
<li>roll of chicken wire</li>
<li>roll of tar paper</li>
<li>rubber tire</li>
<li>sack of coal</li>
<li>seagull</li>
<li>seeds</li>
<li>small barrels</li>
<li>spaniel with collar</li>
<li>steak bones</li>
<li>tin cans</li>
<li>tom-tom</li>
<li>tools</li>
<li>tunicates</li>
<li>2-pound (1-kilogram) can of peas</li>
<li>2-pound (1-kilogram) coil of copper wire</li>
</ul>Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725356628531113995noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885535212116309363.post-19172316598754924082011-04-29T14:25:00.001-04:002015-06-24T10:16:07.844-04:00The Tiger Shark<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDA3Tu-KS_Q0afXxqLjC_4hIMXhCK9cm6scd7ycx5j-0u4yhrBngdpMHzwEKenw-jiOeVlsBWGTyR-DOqZNUpipcr2O1x5raaTU1DZrWOcFWrTc1QjdRArUp9swRga2sCU_vNH4qjnbqR4/s1600/tiger-shark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDA3Tu-KS_Q0afXxqLjC_4hIMXhCK9cm6scd7ycx5j-0u4yhrBngdpMHzwEKenw-jiOeVlsBWGTyR-DOqZNUpipcr2O1x5raaTU1DZrWOcFWrTc1QjdRArUp9swRga2sCU_vNH4qjnbqR4/s400/tiger-shark.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Galeocerdo cuvier</em></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgB95JMrU8CIstfsTJrZPXbhXkukVZ6Qcjcow1fOcfDJ4NtqXCVIceobAE5doWeCeWR-ExoEpzuuEVsx3uifdH8OXGpffUvP3Qd2vg2whD3SHtXihz6GccOgEL5SYm82AYUt4P6s55hd1s/s1600/tiger2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgB95JMrU8CIstfsTJrZPXbhXkukVZ6Qcjcow1fOcfDJ4NtqXCVIceobAE5doWeCeWR-ExoEpzuuEVsx3uifdH8OXGpffUvP3Qd2vg2whD3SHtXihz6GccOgEL5SYm82AYUt4P6s55hd1s/s1600/tiger2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiger Shark teeth.</td></tr>
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The Tiger Shark, is one of the world's most dangerous sharks. Named for their stripes that fade as the animal gets older, the tiger shark is also known as the "garbage can of the sea". This name comes from the tiger shark's tendency to eat anything and everything that crosses their path. Just to name a few items found in tiger shark stomachs: a tom-tom, a chicken coop, license plates, drums, a goat, a suit of armour. In addition to garbage, tiger sharks eat dolphins, seals, seabirds, marine turtles, sea snakes, fish, sharks, rays, crabs, spiny lobsters, horseshoe crabs, octopus, squid, marine snails, and jellyfish. Their heavily serrated teeth have an indentation which makes the tooth look crooked. This unique tooth shape combined with a large bite force allows for the tiger shark to break the rock hard shell of marine turtles. Tiger Sharks are active at night and enter shallow reefs and lagoons after dusk to feed. The largest tiger shark ever recorded was 18 feet, but there have been some unconfirmed reports of tiger sharks longer than 30 feet! The females mature at 8 years, at 8 to 11.5 ft. Males mature at 7 years, at 7.5 to 10 ft. They are ovoviviparous (the females carry eggs that hatch in the womb, but are not attached by an umbilical cord to the mother) and their gestation period is 13-16 months. They can give birth to anywhere from 10 to 82 pups! However, as with all sharks, they do not care for their children.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">note: I do not own any of these pictures.</span>Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725356628531113995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885535212116309363.post-56383061718747524972011-04-17T17:47:00.002-04:002011-12-08T14:18:10.520-05:00The Great White Shark<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDB3XNn1MhOdww8cEqBsldfpHqsMOhvsC5zfan6C-ainr1lwxhldquUDtskm-nA-_FIOgCGNNnUiDBA_-ojkkij1y-FYbXJ6XO0QJLrppw8QTF3lqkSaSlHfefgmZUCICIuS5GiyfkfVh/s1600/great-white-new-zealand_6452_600x450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDB3XNn1MhOdww8cEqBsldfpHqsMOhvsC5zfan6C-ainr1lwxhldquUDtskm-nA-_FIOgCGNNnUiDBA_-ojkkij1y-FYbXJ6XO0QJLrppw8QTF3lqkSaSlHfefgmZUCICIuS5GiyfkfVh/s320/great-white-new-zealand_6452_600x450.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Great White Shark off the coast of New Zealand</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNMdASYKexrpA_FMLbXkTMGK4uTGgzYfnIzVJW1CyzZPdghrlFK1ckVy9kdYvziy65k992pkZ4_8aXSt6QKLZb_qMtkMZ42rUujQuVv7GTWDqdB2iS8oihSy7olvtPKl3Nl2W_LV1KMfw/s1600/eye-level-great-white_6448_600x450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNMdASYKexrpA_FMLbXkTMGK4uTGgzYfnIzVJW1CyzZPdghrlFK1ckVy9kdYvziy65k992pkZ4_8aXSt6QKLZb_qMtkMZ42rUujQuVv7GTWDqdB2iS8oihSy7olvtPKl3Nl2W_LV1KMfw/s320/eye-level-great-white_6448_600x450.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A gaping White Shark </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Of all shark species, <i>Carcharodon carcharias </i>is perhaps the best known and least understood. The white shark is a member of the Mackerel shark family whose members are "point endothermic". This means that they are not truly warm-blooded, but the movement of their muscles warms their blood. Now known more often as the white shark than the Great White Shark, these massive creatures can weigh from 1,500 to 4,500 pounds. Females become mature at the age of 14-16 years old, at 15-16 ft. Males mature at 9-10 years, at 11.5-12 ft. At birth they are 3-5 ft. long. Their gestation period is thought to be 18 months. White sharks are believed to be opportunistic feeders, but here are some of the items they are known to feed on: sharks (though they are not cannibalistic, they do eat smaller shark species), rays, fish, seals, sea lions, dolphins, squid, sea birds, marine turtles, crabs, snails, and whale carrion. Sadly, these beautiful and majestic creatures are vulnerable of becoming extinct. Over fishing combined with slow reproduction rates means dropping shark numbers, not just in Great Whites, but in all shark species.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">note: I do not own any of these pictures. </span>Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725356628531113995noreply@blogger.com1