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Species Identified
Rhizoprionodon acutus (Rüppell, 1837) (Fish shark)
Found on continental shelves, often on sandy beaches and rarely in estuaries . Reported to enter freshwater and recorded several times from Cambodia as far upstream as the Great Lake . Occurs near the surface in shallow ...
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Found on continental shelves, often on sandy beaches and rarely in estuaries . Reported to enter freshwater and recorded several times from Cambodia as far upstream as the Great Lake . Occurs near the surface in shallow waters . Feeds mainly on small pelagic and benthic bony fishes, also cephalopods and other invertebrates . Viviparous . Utilized fresh and possibly dried salted for human consumption and for fishmeal . The 178 cm specimen recorded off Africa is possibly based on some other species .
Chiloscyllium plagiosum ([Bennett], 1830) (whitespotted bamboo shark)
A common but little-known inshore bottom shark . Feeds on bony fishes and crustaceans . Oviparous . Utilized for human consumption and used in Chinese medicine . Caught by multiple hook and line and trawl . Caught rarely by demersal gillnet fisheries operating inshore .
A common but little-known inshore bottom shark . Feeds on bony fishes and crustaceans . Oviparous . Utilized for human consumption and used in Chinese medicine . Caught by multiple hook and line and trawl . Caught rarely by demersal gillnet fisheries operating inshore .
Notorynchus cepedianus (Péron, 1807) (Broad snouted sevengill)
Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810 (Short-finned Mako Shark)
Given this shark's relative notoriety, particularly among anglers, surprisingly little is known of its biology . Reproductive knowledge of this solitary species is sparse, largely because pregnant females usually abort emb...
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Given this shark's relative notoriety, particularly among anglers, surprisingly little is known of its biology . Reproductive knowledge of this solitary species is sparse, largely because pregnant females usually abort embryos upon capture, making study difficult . Reproduction is ovoviviparous, with embryos being nourished in the uterus by a yolk sac rather than placenta. Once the young have hatched, uterine cannibalism known as oophagy occurs, in which the growing young feed on unfertilised or less-developed eggs . Litters of between 4 and 25 live young are born in the late winter and early spring, after a 15 to 18 month gestation period. This is followed by an initial relatively fast growth rate . Females are believed to rest for 18 months after birth before conceiving again . Females appear to become sexually mature at around 17 to 19 years of age and males mature around 7 to 9 years. The maximum known age of a shortfin mako is 32 years . The shortfin mako primarily feeds on a wide variety of fishes, such as swordfish, tuna, mackerel, cod, sea bass, and even other sharks, including blue sharks (Prionace), grey sharks (Carcharhinus) and hammerheads (Sphyrna). However, squid, sea turtle heads, and a 'porpoise' have also been found in the stomachs of these sharks .
Chiloscyllium griseum Müller and Henle, 1838 (Black banded cat shark)
A common inshore bottom shark . Often found in estuaries . Probably feeds mainly on invertebrates . Oviparous . Utilized as a food fish .
A common inshore bottom shark . Often found in estuaries . Probably feeds mainly on invertebrates . Oviparous . Utilized as a food fish .
Scyliorhinus canicula (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lesser-spotted catshark)
Carcharhinus dussumieri (Müller and Henle, 1839) (White-cheeked shark)
Despite being relatively common in many parts of its range, little is known about the biology of the whitecheek shark . This species mainly feeds on fish, along with crustaceans and squid , which are snared by its numerous...
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Despite being relatively common in many parts of its range, little is known about the biology of the whitecheek shark . This species mainly feeds on fish, along with crustaceans and squid , which are snared by its numerous rear-angled, serrated-edged teeth . The whitecheek shark breeds throughout the year, with the female giving birth to an average of two live young, which are already almost half the size of the adult .
Carcharhinus sorrah (Müller and Henle, 1839) (Black-tip shark)
Found on the continental and insular shelves, primarily near reefs . Sometimes in offshore waters . Live near the seabed during the day and near the surface at night . Shark movements often short but may be more than 1...
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Found on the continental and insular shelves, primarily near reefs . Sometimes in offshore waters . Live near the seabed during the day and near the surface at night . Shark movements often short but may be more than 1,000 km . Prefers teleost fishes but also feeds on cephalopods and crustaceans . Viviparous . Regularly caught by local artisanal and small-scale commercial fisheries where it occurs . Utilized as a food fish; fins used in the oriental shark fin trade, liver for vitamin oil, and offal for fishmeal .
Etmopterus brachyurus Smith & Radcliffe, 1912 (Shorttail lanternshark)
Inhabits the upper slope, on or near the bottom . Feeds mainly on mid-water bony fish, also squid, octopus, shrimp and brittle stars . Ovoviviparous .
Inhabits the upper slope, on or near the bottom . Feeds mainly on mid-water bony fish, also squid, octopus, shrimp and brittle stars . Ovoviviparous .
Loxodon macrorhinus Müller and Henle, 1839 (Jordans blue dogshark)
Found on continental and insular shelves; mainly near the bottom . Feeds on small bony fishes, shrimps and cuttlefish . Viviparous ; gives birth annually to litters of 2-4 pups . Caught in artisanal and small scale comm...
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Found on continental and insular shelves; mainly near the bottom . Feeds on small bony fishes, shrimps and cuttlefish . Viviparous ; gives birth annually to litters of 2-4 pups . Caught in artisanal and small scale commercial fisheries . Utilized fresh for human consumption ; meat and fins, but of limited value due to its small size .
Sphyrna mokarran (Rüppell, 1837) (Great hammerhead shark)
The great hammerhead is particularly keen on feeding on stingrays, despite the danger of their barbs. The hammerhead pins down each ray with its hammer and then bites chunks from the wings until the ray is immobilised . It...
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The great hammerhead is particularly keen on feeding on stingrays, despite the danger of their barbs. The hammerhead pins down each ray with its hammer and then bites chunks from the wings until the ray is immobilised . It also feeds on groupers, sea catfish, small, bony fish, crabs, squid, other sharks and lobsters . It can be cannibalistic although it is not known what triggers this behaviour. Feeding mainly at dusk, the great hammerhead uses an electro-sensory system to locate prey; sensing the weak electric field produced by all living organisms. Larger sharks may prey on juvenile great hammerheads but adults have no natural predators . Mating has rarely been observed in this species, but unlike other sharks it is known to mate at the surface . Males use extensions of the pelvic fins called 'claspers' to transfer sperm to the female , resulting in a pregnancy lasting 11 months . Young are born live in the spring or summer . The function of the hammer is much discussed and a great many theories have been put forward as to its purpose. Amongst these theories, the most popular are that it helps the shark to scan larger areas of the ocean floor for food, and that it maximises the area of the sensory organs that can detect chemical, physical and thermal changes in the water, as well as electric fields .
Galeocerdo cuvier (Péron & Lesueur, 1822) (tiger shark)
Squatina tergocellata McCulloch, 1914 (Ornate angel shark)
Found on the continental shelf and upper slope. Common in about 300 m depth . Ovoviviparous . Flesh is tasty .
Found on the continental shelf and upper slope. Common in about 300 m depth . Ovoviviparous . Flesh is tasty .
Bathyraja murrayi (Günther, 1880) (Murray's skate)
Oviparous. Distinct pairing with embrace. Young may tend to follow large objects, such as their mother . Eggs are oblong capsules with stiff pointed horns at the corners deposited in sandy or muddy flats . Egg capsules...
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Oviparous. Distinct pairing with embrace. Young may tend to follow large objects, such as their mother . Eggs are oblong capsules with stiff pointed horns at the corners deposited in sandy or muddy flats . Egg capsules are 6.0 cm long and 3.4 cm wide . Frequently taken in commercial bottom hauls but not much utilized because of its small size .
Aetomylaeus maculatus (Gray, 1834) (Mottled eagle ray)
Found inshore . Inhabits mangrove creeks and protected sandy channels to a depth of at least 18 m; relatively uncommon . Ovoviviparous . Caught occasionally by bottom trawl, tangle net and inshore gillnet fisheries. Ut...
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Found inshore . Inhabits mangrove creeks and protected sandy channels to a depth of at least 18 m; relatively uncommon . Ovoviviparous . Caught occasionally by bottom trawl, tangle net and inshore gillnet fisheries. Utilized for its meat, but of limited value as it is not frequently landed . Presumably utilized for human consumption in the western central Pacific .
Himantura gerrardi (Gray, 1851) (Sharpnose stingray)
Likely confined to the inner continental shelf , over sandy and mud bottoms . Recorded from coastal waters and river mouths . Feeds on bottom crustaceans including shrimp, crabs and small lobsters . Ovoviviparous . Imp...
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Likely confined to the inner continental shelf , over sandy and mud bottoms . Recorded from coastal waters and river mouths . Feeds on bottom crustaceans including shrimp, crabs and small lobsters . Ovoviviparous . Important food fish, the skin and flesh are dried or used to produce leather for purses and bags . Caught in very large quantities in the demersal tangle net, bottom trawl and trammel net fisheries. Utilized for its meat, skin and cartilage .
Taeniura lymma (Forsskål, 1775) (Bluespotted ribbontail ray)
Blue-spotted stingrays live alone or in small groups , migrating in large schools into shallow sandy areas on the rising tide in order to feed, and dispersing back into the ocean as the tide falls to shelter in the coral c...
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Blue-spotted stingrays live alone or in small groups , migrating in large schools into shallow sandy areas on the rising tide in order to feed, and dispersing back into the ocean as the tide falls to shelter in the coral crevices of the reef . Feeding most commonly occurs during the day, but sometimes also at night , and the diet consists largely of worms, shrimps, crabs, molluscs and small fish . Prey is often detected through electroreception, a system which senses the electrical fields produced by the prey . Not all small fish and invertebrates are potential prey, as blue-spotted stingrays can often be found at 'cleaning stations', areas of reef where large fish line up and tiny fish or shrimp pick off their dead skin and parasites . In courtship, males often follow females, using their acutely sensitive 'nose' to detect a chemical signal emitted by the female that indicates she is receptive. Breeding occurs from late spring through the summer, and gestation can last anything from four months to a year . Reproduction is ovoviviparous, meaning females give birth to live pups that have hatched from egg cases inside the uterus . Up to seven pups are born per litter and each juvenile is born with the distinctive blue markings of its parents in miniature .
Thunnus obesus (Lowe, 1839) (Big eye tunny)
Bigeye tunas are excellent swimmers, with a number of remarkable adaptations which make them efficient predators of the ocean. Unlike many other fish, they cannot pump water over their gills, but instead, swim with their ...
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Bigeye tunas are excellent swimmers, with a number of remarkable adaptations which make them efficient predators of the ocean. Unlike many other fish, they cannot pump water over their gills, but instead, swim with their mouth open which forces water over their gills. While this is an efficient way of getting water over their gills, it means that if they stop swimming, they will suffocate. The gills of tuna cover a surface area up to 30 times larger than other fish, giving a large surface over which water can flow, enabling about half the oxygen present in the water to be absorbed. The hearts of tuna are also much larger than those of other fish; about ten times as large, relative to the size of the body. This, along with a high blood pressure, creates perfect conditions to rapidly transfer oxygen from the gills to other tissues . As well as adaptations to enhance the amount of oxygen reaching the muscles, a unique system to regulate their body temperature enables tuna to maintain their body temperature above that of the ocean. This system is called the rete mirabile; a counter-current heat exchange system which prevents heat from being lost to the surroundings. This maximises the efficiency of the muscles and maintains good brain and eye function, allowing the bigeye tuna to forage in cold water . Juvenile and small adult bigeye tunas school at the ocean's surface, sometimes together with yellowfin or skipjack tuna, and often associated with floating objects , while adult bigeye tunas are found in deeper water . The bigeye tunas migrate between feeding grounds in temperate waters and their spawning grounds in tropical waters; however, they are on the move almost all the time as they search for areas of plentiful food . Bigeye tunas feed on a variety of fish, cephalopods and crustaceans; which it searches for in the daytime and nighttime. Bigeye tunas become prey themselves for larger billfish and toothed whales . Mature bigeye tuna spawn at least twice a year; releasing between an incredible 2.9 million and 6.3 million eggs each time. In the eastern Pacific, spawning has been recorded between 10°N and l0° S throughout the year, peaking between April and September in the northern hemisphere and between January and March in the southern hemisphere .
Echidna leucotaenia Schultz, 1943 (Whiteface moray)
Occurs among rubble deposits on the lee side of shallow wave-washed reefs. Feeds on crustaceans . Benthic .
Occurs among rubble deposits on the lee side of shallow wave-washed reefs. Feeds on crustaceans . Benthic .
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United Arab Emirates
Date: 2012-02-04 - 05:00
Max Depth: 4m Duration: 30mins
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