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constantly outdated shark taxonomy page, a monster list of shark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.
Identification:
Large, blocky, pig-like head. Dorsal spines present,
terminating well below tips of dorsal fins. Dorsal fins pointed. Distinct, dark
bridle pattern running from upper back onto
pectoral fins and along flanks. Dark stripe also runs from the cheeks over the
eyes and across the supra-orbital ridges
Size:
Maximum
length 170cm.23cm at birth. Males mature at 70
- 80cm, females amture at 85 - 90cm.
Habitat:
Intertidal to at least 275m. Rocky
reefs and sand flats from. Juveniles often in open sandy areas.
Abundance
and distribution: Northern Western Australia around south coast to
Northern
Queensland. Most common in Southern range.
Behavior:
Nocturnal.
Rests during the day in groups or solitary, on the sand and forages for small
fishes, Sea urchins, and benthic invertebrates at night. Juveniles form
large nurseries sometimes with hundreds of sharks.
Reproduction:
Oviparous.During August and September
deposits 10 - 16
distinctive auger shaped egg cases every 8 to 17 days in shallow
rock crevices.
Observations:
Photographs:
Albany, Western Australia.
Similar
species: Crested horn shark.
Shares east coast home range but easily distinguished by lack of bridled pattern
and higher supra-orbital ridge.
Reaction
to divers: Can often be
easily
approached but prone to bolt especially when in the open.
Diving
logistics: Port Jackson sharks are
fairly abundant in much of their southern range.
Consequently they are often encountered by divers in recreational diving depths.
Other
diving locations submitted by readers:
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.
