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constantly outdated shark taxonomy page, a monster list of shark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 nudibranchs. 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:
Pectoral fins narrow and pointed. Subrostral lobe (beak) short and rounded.
Dorsum brown with pale blue blotches.
Size: Wing
span to 150cm.
Habitat: Bays,
rocky and coral
reef faces, and sand flats (where it feeds).
Abundance and distribution:
New Zealand and Australia (from Queensland around the southern coast to W.A.)
Behavior:
Often found resting in sand in excavated depressions. Forages in the sand for
shelled mollusks and crabs but will take fish incidentally as shown by the bat
rays at Hamelin Bay (See diving logistics).
Reproduction: Ovoviviparous.
Observations:
Photographs:
Hamelin Bay, W.Australia.
Similar species:
The New Zealand eagle ray (M.tenuicaudatus) is possibly the same species.
Reaction to divers:
Usually difficult to approach except at Hamelin Bay. See Below.
Diving logistics:
By far the best spot to see and photograph Southern bat rays is Hamelin Bay in
W.Australia. Here the presence of scraps in the water has resulted in these and
other ray species becoming desensitized to contact with humans. Waders and
snorkellers are able to feed the rays right from shore. Noone appears to have
been hurt in this activity and the rays that come in to take advantage of the
snacks are able to be petted and hand fed.
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.
