Sharks, Rays And Skates - FWC
Sharks, Rays and SkatesShark AnatomyThese diagrams show important anatomical characteristics of sharks.Top view of sharkBottom view of sharkSpiracle: Opening behind each eye thatdraws in water to aid in breathing whilelying on the bottom.Fishing Lines1
Blacknose SharkCarcharhinus acronotusFamily Carcharhinidae, Requiem SharksDescription:Black or dusky blotch on snout tipBack is pale olive-gray, fading to a whitish bellyFirst dorsal fin starts immediately behind the pectoral finSecond dorsal fin starts before middle of anal finNo interdorsal ridgeSimilar Species: Atlantic sharpnose shark, R. terraenovae (lacks dark snout tip)Size: Up to 5 feetHabitat: Coastal waters; common in bays and lagoonsNotes: Feed mostly on small fishes and invertebratesAtlantic Sharpnose SharkRhizoprionodon terraenovaeFamily Carcharhinidae, Requiem SharksDescription:Body is slender, brown to olive-gray on back,fading to a whitish bellySnout is long and sharply roundedVery long upper labial furrow (groove around the lips)Dorsal and caudal fins with black edges, especially in juvenilesFirst dorsal fin starts well behind pectoral finSecond dorsal fin starts over the middle of the anal finAdults may have small white spots on sidesNo interdorsal ridgeSimilar Species: Blacknose shark, C. acronotus (has dark snout tip)Habitat: Coastal waters; can be found near the surf zone; common in bays and estuaries; Adults also found offshoreSize: Up to 4 feetNotes: Feed on small fishes and invertebratesBlacktip SharkCarcharhinus limbatusFamily Carcharhinidae, Requiem SharksDescription:Back is dark bluish-gray (juveniles more pale) fadingto a whitish bellyAnal fin lacks black tip (in adults); dorsal fins, pectoral fins,anal fin and caudal fin lower lobe are black-tipped in juveniles(fades with growth)First dorsal fin starts above pectoral fin inner marginLong snout that appears nearly V-shaped from belowNo interdorsal ridgeSimilar Species: Spinner shark, C. brevipinna (first dorsal fin starts behind the pectoral fin; anal fin is black-tipped)Habitat: Coastal to offshore watersSize: Up to 6.5 feetNotes: One of the most common shark species in Florida coastal waters2Fishing Lines
Spinner SharkCarcharhinus brevipinnaFamily Carcharhinidae, Requiem SharksDescription:Back is gray-bronze, fading to a white bellySnout pointed with a length equal to or longerthan mouth widthAnal fin with black tipDorsal fins, pectoral fins and caudal fin lower lobealso black-tippedFirst dorsal fin starts behind pectoral finNo interdorsal ridgeSimilar Species: Blacktip shark, C. limbatus (first dorsal fin begins over the pectoral fin inner margin; anal fin doesnot have a black tip)Habitat: Coastal to offshore watersSize: Up to 8 or 9 feetNotes: The spinner shark’s name is derived from its habit ofleaping out of the water and spinning while in the air (othershark species are known to leap as well)Finetooth SharkCarcharhinus isodonFamily Carcharhinidae, Requiem SharksDescription:Body slender with long gill slitsBack is gray-blue, fading to a white bellyTeeth are finely pointed and smooth, similar in both jawsFins are unmarked (no spots, blotches or black edges or tips)No interdorsal ridgeSimilar Species: Blacktip shark, C. limbatus (has black tips on fins); spinner shark, C. brevipinna (has black tips onfins); and Atlantic sharpnose shark, R. terraenovae (spots on side and long upper labial furrows)Habitat: Coastal watersSize: Up to 4 or 5 feetNotes: Feed on small fishes and squidLemon SharkNegaprion brevirostrisFamily Carcharhinidae, Requiem SharksDescription:Snout bluntly rounded, shorter than width of mouthBack is yellowish-green, brown or olive-gray,fading to a white bellyFirst and second dorsal fins are nearly equal in sizeNo interdorsal ridgeSimilar Species: Bull shark, C. leucas (first and seconddorsal fins are unequal in size); nurse shark, G. cirratum(has nasal barbels)Habitat: Coastal waters, including nearshore and in estuariesSize: Up to 10.5 feetNotes: Feeds on fishes, invertebrates, small sharks, rays and occasionally on sea birds; may enter freshwaterFishing Lines3
Bull SharkCarcharhinus leucasFamily Carcharhinidae, Requiem SharksDescription:Back is pale to dark gray, fading to a white bellySnout bluntly rounded, much shorter than widthof mouthLarge triangular first dorsal fin; begins over or justbehind pectoral fin insertionNo interdorsal ridgeSimilar Species: Lemon shark, N. brevirostris (first and second dorsal fins nearly equal in size); Caribbean reefshark, C. perezii (has interdorsal ridge); and sandbar shark, C. plumbeus (first dorsal fin starts before pectoral fininsertion)Habitat: Estuarine, nearshore and offshore watersSize: Up to 9 or 10 feetNotes: One of the few shark species that may inhabit freshwater, sometimes venturing hundreds of miles inland viacoastal river systems; more aggressive than most shark speciesBlue SharkPrionace glaucaFamily Carcharhinidae, Requiem SharksDescription:Body slender with long narrow pectoral finsLong sharply rounded snout, longer than widthof mouthBody color is blue, fading to a white bellyFirst dorsal fin starts well behind the pectoral finNo interdorsal ridgeSimilar Species: Shortfin mako, I. oxyrinchus (tail inshape of crescent moon)Habitat: Found mostly in offshore oceanic watersSize: Up to 12.5 feetNotes: Feed on a variety of fishes, small sharks and squidCaribbean Reef SharkCarcharhinus pereziiFamily Carcharhinidae, Requiem SharksDescription:Back dark gray to gray-brown, fading to a white bellySnout short and bluntly roundedFirst dorsal fin starts over pectoral fin free tipFins dusky-colored, with very short free tip on seconddorsal finInterdorsal ridge presentSimilar Species: Dusky shark, C. obscurus (longer freetip on second dorsal fin); bull shark, C. leucas (no interdorsal ridge); and sandbar shark, C. plumbeus (first dorsal finstarts in front of pectoral fin insertion)Habitat: Found near coral reefs in the Caribbean and off South America; rarely found north of the Florida KeysSize: Up to 8 feetNotes: Feed mainly on a variety of fishes4Fishing Lines
Dusky SharkCarcharhinus obscurusFamily Carcharhinidae, Requiem SharksDescription:Back is bronze-gray to blue-gray, fading to a white bellySnout moderately rounded, shorter than or equalto mouth widthSecond dorsal fin free tip less than twice as longas fin heightFirst dorsal fin starts over the pectoral fin free tipInterdorsal ridge presentSimilar Species: Sandbar shark, C. plumbeus (first dorsal fin starts in front of pectoral fin insertion); silky shark, C.falciformis (first dorsal fin starts behind pectoral fin free tip; longer second dorsal fin free tip)Habitat: Nearshore and offshore waters; avoid estuaries with low salinitiesSize: Up to 12 feetNotes: May live up to 40 years; feed on other sharks, fishes and squidSandbar SharkCarcharhinus plumbeusFamily Carcharhinidae, Requiem SharksDescription:Snout broadly rounded and shortFirst dorsal fin is large and triangular, begins overor in front of pectoral fin insertionBack is brown or gray, fading to a white bellyInterdorsal ridge presentSimilar Species: Dusky shark, C. obscurus (first dorsalstarts over pectoral fin free tip); bull shark, C. leucas(no interdorsal ridge)Habitat: Coastal and offshore waters; may enter estuariesSize: Up to 8 feetNotes: Mature at about 6 feet in length; feed on fishes and invertebratesTiger SharkGaleocerdo cuvierFamily Carcharhinidae, Requiem SharksDescription:Snout bluntly rounded, much shorter thanmouth widthSerrated teeth with deep notch on outer marginsSpiracles present, smallAdults have tiger-like vertical bars that fade with ageJuveniles have bluish or green-gray to black backswith dark blotchesLow interdorsal ridge presentSimilar Species: Teeth, short snout and markings distinguish this species from all other CarcharhinidsHabitat: Coastal and offshore watersSize: Up to 15.5 feetNotes: Voracious feeders that will eat just about anything; second only to the great white shark in the number ofattacks on humans worldwideFishing Lines5
Sand Tiger SharkCarcharias taurusFamily Odontaspididae, Sand Tiger SharksDescription:Snout flattened and sharply roundedLight brown with irregular dark spots on bodyFirst dorsal fin starts well behind pectoral finFirst and second dorsal fins of equal sizeAll 5 gill slits are in front of the pectoral finSmall eyes and a long mouth that extends behindthe eyesNo interdorsal ridgeHabitat: Coastal waters near bays and in deeper waters around reef areasSize: Up to 10 feetNotes: Juveniles are cannibalistic and will feed on siblings while in the wombShortfin Mako SharkIsurus oxyrinchusFamily Lamnidae, Mackerel SharksDescription:Lunate tail (shaped like a crescent moon)with lobes of similar sizeSingle lateral keel at base of tailBack is a deep blue color, fading to a white bellySnout is sharply pointed with a white undersideFirst dorsal fin starts behind free tip of pectoral finTeeth are long, narrow and recurved with smooth edgesNo interdorsal ridgeSimilar Species: White shark, C. carcharias (teeth are serrated and triangular); and longfin mako, I. paucus (areaunder snout is dusky or blue-black)Habitat: Offshore fish often seen near the surfaceSize: Up to 12 feetNotes: A strong swimmer that may leap out of the water when hooked; feed on many large fish speciesCommon Thresher SharkAlopias vulpinusFamily Alopiidae, Thresher SharksDescription:Huge caudal fin upper lobe, nearly equalto length of bodyWhite patches extending from abdomenabove pectoral fin basesNo interdorsal ridgeSimilar Species: Bigeye thresher shark, A. superciliosus (has larger eyes and V-groove on top of head)Habitat: Coastal and offshore waters; juveniles found more inshoreSize: Up to 20 feetNotes: Long caudal fin is used to herd and stun schools of fish, which make up most of its diet6Fishing Lines
Nurse SharkGinglymostoma cirratumFamily Ginglymostomatidae, Nurse SharksDescription:Very blunt mouth with nasal barbels on each sideEyes very smallBrown to yellow-brown above, lighter below (juvenilesoften have black spots)Broadly rounded dorsal and anal finsFirst and second dorsal fins are similar in sizeFirst dorsal fin begins well behind pectoral finsNo distinct lower lobe of caudal finNo interdorsal ridgeSimilar Species: Lemon shark, N. brevirostris (lacks nasal barbels)Habitat: Coastal and nearshore waters; often seen lying motionless on the bottomSize: Up to 9 feetNotes: Feed on fishes and bottom-dwelling invertebratesSmooth Dogfish (Dusky Smooth-hound)Mustelus canisFamily Triakidae, Smooth-hound SharksDescription:Grayish-brown color on top, fading to lighter belowSmall, slender shark with two spineless dorsal fins,the second slightly smaller than the firstSpiracles presentCaudal fin lower lobe rounded and much shorter than upper lobeUpper lobe of caudal fin with deep notch at endInterdorsal ridge presentSimilar Species: Spiny dogfish, S. acanthias (lacks anal fin and has one spine in front of each dorsal fin)Habitat: Found inshore in bays, nearshore and offshore near reefs and banksSize: Up to 5 feetNotes: Feed on the bottom, scavenging and preying upon large crustaceansSpiny DogfishSqualus acanthiasFamily Squalidae, Dogfish SharksDescription:Blueish-gray back, white spots on sides and a white bellySlender body with a long, narrow and pointed snoutOne spine in front of each of the two dorsal finsFirst dorsal fin starts just behind pectoral finSpiracles presentNo anal fin presentPale caudal fin with white edge and black blotch on upper lobeNo interdorsal ridgeSimilar Species: Smooth dogfish, M. canis (has anal fin and lacks dorsal spines)Habitat: Coastal waters on the east coast, usually near the bottom; tolerate brackish waterSize: Up to 5 feetNotes: Forage in large schools; feed on fishes and invertebratesFishing Lines7
Scalloped Hammerhead SharkSphyrna lewiniFamily Sphyrnidae, Hammerhead SharksDescription:Head is flattened and extends to hammer-likelobes on each sideIndentation on front of head at its midpointTeeth have smooth edgesBack is gray-brown to olive, fading toa white bellyUnderside of pectoral fins tipped with blackPelvic fin rear edge nearly straightSimilar Species: Smooth hammerhead, S. zygaena (no indentation on front of head at midpoint); great hammerhead,S. mokarran (sides of head not pointed)Habitat: Coastal to offshore watersSize: Up to 12 feetNotes: Feed on fishes, stringrays and squid; males mature at about 6 feetBonnethead SharkSphyrna tiburoFamily Sphyrnidae, Hammerhead SharksDescription:Head is broadly widened into the shapeof a shovelFront of head NOT notched at midlineBack is gray or grayish-brown in colorSimilar Species: Other hammerhead sharksobtain larger size and have hammer-shapedheadsHabitat: Coastal waters, including bays and estuariesSize: Up to 4.5 feetNotes: Mature at about 3 feet in length and produce 6 to 12 young at a time; feed mainly on crabsand other crustaceansSouthern StingrayDasyatis americanaFamily Dasyatidae, StingraysDescription:Disk almost a perfect rhombus, with pointed cornersFin-fold on underside of tail is long and high, usually dusky or black in colorFin-fold on back is very low or absentBack is dark brown (more gray in juveniles)Defensive venomous barb near base of long whip-like tailSimilar Species: Atlantic stingray, D. sabina (snout sharply pointed); otherstingrays; whip-like tail with venomous barb differentiates them from skatesHabitat: Bottom-dwelling species common in bays, estuaries and coastal watersSize: Up to 5 feet in disk widthNotes: Feed on invertebrates and small fishes8Fishing Lines
Atlantic StingrayDasyatis sabinaFamily Dasyatidae, StingraysDescription:Brownish to yellow-brown on back and white underneathCorners of disk are roundedSnout pointed and projectingDefensive venomous barb near base of long whip-like tailLow dorsal and ventral fin folds on tail which are light-brown or dusky in colorSimilar Species: Other stingrays are typically larger and lack a pointed snout;whip-like tail with venomous barb differentiates them from skatesHabitat: Bottom-dwelling species that inhabits coastal waters, includingestuaries, lagoons and sometimes riversSize: Up to 2 feet in disk widthNotes: Feed on benthic invertebrates, polychaete worms, small crustaceans,shrimp, crabs, mollusks and sometimes small fishesClearnose SkateRaja eglanteriaFamily Rajidae, SkatesDescription:Brown or gray in color and white underneathSmall, dark spots and bars on back, but they are not ocellatedSnout is pointed and translucent on either sideSingle row of spines located on disc behind spiracles, continuing to tailDorsal fins similar in size and located near end of caudal fin (tail)Lack venomous barbSimilar Species: Other skate species; stingrays have a similar body shape,but possess a long whip-like tail equipped with a venomous spineHabitat: Coastal and offshore species, found in brackish and salt waters oversoft, sandy bottoms to depths up to 390 feetSize: Up to 1.5 feet in disk widthNotes: Feed on crustaceans, mollusks and other small invertebratesFishing Lines9
(lacks dark snout tip) Size: Up to 5 feet. Habitat: Coastal waters; common in bays and lagoons. Notes: Feed mostly on small fishes and invertebrates. Atlantic Sharpnose Shark. Rhizoprionodon terraenovae. Family. Carcharhinidae, Requiem Sharks. Description: Body is slender, brown to olive-gray on back, fading to a whitish belly Snout is long and .
Table 3: Sharks and rays occurrences in the windward and leeward Dutch Caribbean (Based on van Beek et al., 2014; Davies & Piontek, 2017) Yarari Marine Mammal and Shark Sanctuary - Content Family: Dogfish sharks - Squalidae Family: Kitefin sharks - Dalatiidae Family: Squaliform sharks - Centrophoridae Family: Lantern sharks - Etmopteridae
national waters in accordance with the Regional Plan of Action on Sharks (PI RPOA-Sharks). The NPOA-Sharks also fulfills management measures adopted by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and the broader objectives of the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks (IOPA-Sharks).
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1 Ireland Red List No. 11: Cartilaginous fish [sharks, skates, rays and chimaeras] Maurice Clarke1, Edward D. Farrell2, William Roche3, Tomás E. Murray4, Stephen Foster5 and Ferdia Marnell6 1 Marine Institute 2Irish Elasmobranch Group 3Inland Fisheries Ireland 4National Biodiversity Data Centre 5Marine and Fisheries Division, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
The image of sharks is particularly negative in Western culture. For many of us they symbolise predatory behaviour, greed, gluttony, danger, and deceit, inspiring negative metaphors such as: swimming with the sharks, loan shark, shark lawyer, and feeding frenzy. 'Popular' Western attitudes towards sharks and rays are
As top predators, sharks play a vital role in marine environments by regulating ecosystem structure and function. Sharks are long-lived animals that are slow to mature and have few offspring. For example, white sharks (commonly known as great whites) can live up to 70 years and females do not start producing offspring until around age 15.
Sherwood Scientific Near infrared 3000 - 780 Visible rays 780 - 380 Near ultra violet rays(UV) 380 - 200 Far ultra violet rays 200 - 50 X-rays 50 - 10-1 (Gamma) X-rays 10-1 – 10-3 Cosmic rays 10-3 and less Most of us are more familiar with the vis
7 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02. 8 Discontinued 1996; see 1995 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.05. 9 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.03. 10 Available from American National Standards Institute, 11 West 42nd St., 13th Floor, New York, NY 10036. 11 Available from General Service Administration, Washington, DC 20405. 12 Available from Standardization Documents Order Desk .
