Not just Shark
Pictures: Elasmodiver contains photos of sharks, skates, rays, and
chimaera's from around the world. It began as a simple web based
field guide to help divers find the best places to encounter
different species of sharks and rays but it has slowly evolved into
a much larger project containing information on all aspects of shark
diving and photography. There are now more than a thousand shark
pictures and sections on shark evolution, biology, and
conservation. There is a large library of reviewed shark books, a
constantly outdated shark taxonomy page, a monster list of shark
links, and deeper in the site there are numerous articles and
stories about shark encounters. Elasmodiver is now so difficult to
check for updates, that new information and pictures are listed on
an Elasmodiver Updates Page that can be accessed here:
If you're looking for a
broader range of marine life pictures the following links represent
a new area that contains pictures on other marine organisms and on
marine habitats. This expansion of Elasmodiver is in its first
stages but will eventually include pages on everything from sea
stars to nudibranches. Creating this portal will take time and for
now it consists of a token offering of fish pictures. Please return
regularly to enjoy the progress.
Common
Names: Lesser
spotted catshark, Lesser spotted dogfish, Smallspotted catshark/dogfish.
Latin
Name: Scyliorhinus canicula
Family:
Scyliorhinidae
Identification:
Covered
in many small dark (or occasionally light) spots. Dorsum usually has 8 to 10
dark patches forming dusky saddles. Second dorsal fin marginally smaller than
first dorsal. No nasal barbells. Broad nasal flaps extend to mouth.
Size:
1
meter maximum. 10cm at birth.
Habitat:
Rocky reefs and sandy or muddy shorelines. Intertidal to 400m.
Abundance
and distribution: Eastern
Atlantic from Norway to the Ivory Coast of West Africa.
Behavior:Remains motionless during the day and hunts actively at night for
molluscs.
Reproduction:
Oviparous.
The male wraps his body completely around the female during copulation.
The egg capsules are laid in pairs and the female then swims around the reef
until the eggs snag on a suitable piece of substrate. 18-20 may be laid during
each breading season. I have had reports of many pairs of dogfish congregating
around shallow sites near the Lizard Peninsula at the beginning of June.
Observations:
Photographs:
Porthkerris
bay
and Helford River, Cornwall, UK.
Similar species:
Greater spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus stellaris) distinguished by larger
leopard-like spots.
Reaction to divers:
Will allow a reasonably close approach but depending on the individual
will bolt once he diver approaches within a meter or so. Some individuals refuse
to move even when nudged or lifted.
Diving
logistics: This
is a common species along the UK coast and is frequently encountered on dives. The
west coast is probably the best place to find them in great numbers. I have seen
them whilst shore diving from Porthkerris, in Helford River, and on the isle of
Skomer in Pembrokeshire. Contact Porthkerris
Divers for further information.
Other diving locations submitted by
readers:
References
and further
reading:
Reef
Sharks and Rays of the World. Scott W. Michael. Sea Challengers.
Sharks
and Rays - Elasmobranch Guide of the World. Ralf M. Hennemann. IKAN.
