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a large library of reviewed shark books, a constantly outdated shark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: 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.