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constantly outdated shark taxonomy page, a monster list of shark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 of elasmodiver.com that contains pictures of
other marine organisms and of marine habitats. This expansion of
Elasmodiver is in its first stages but will eventually include pages
on all types of marine mammals, bony fishes and marine invertebrates
as well as coastal habitats, reefscapes and other imagess relating
to the ocean. Please return regularly to enjoy the progress.
Identification: Rounded
snout gives way to mildly concave anterior margins of pectoral fins. Distinct
nub at tip of snout. Posterior margins of pectoral fins slightly convex. Small
and large thorns extend down back and tail. Pattern of irregular sized pale
spots and light and dark patches cover dorsum. Overal colouration may be grey or
brown.
Size: Maximum
length 90cm
Habitat: Found
on sand and mud bottoms occasionally adjacent to rocky reefs. Intertidal to
300m.
Abundance and distribution: Common in eastern
Atlantic from Norway south throughout the Mediterranean, the western Baltic, and
the western Black Sea.
Behavior: Usually
seen lying motionless on sand. Forages for a variety of benthic animals such as
crustaceans.
Reproduction: Oviparous.
Large females may lay upto 150 egg capsules during one season.
Observations:
Photographs: Helford
River, Cornwall, UK.
Similar species:
Reaction to divers: Docile. Remains motionless unless
closely approached. A slow swimmer unless threatened. I followed one specimen
for 20 minutes along the river bed occasionally getting close enough to snap
pictures.
Diving logistics:
There are probably many places where it is possible to shore dive with Thornback
skates. In southern Corwall around April the estuary of the Helford river is a
good place to try. For convenience Porthkerris
Divers can drop you in the middle
of the river which is only about 10m deep. The tide will then carry you in or
out of the river mouth. It is best to choose an incoming tide when the water is
clearest. It is also possible to gain entry from the shore to this same area but
the incoming tide may mean that exiting in the same spot is tricky.
Other diving locations:
Further reading:
Sharks
and Rays - Elasmobranch Guide of the World. Ralf M. Hennemann. IKAN.
