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constantly outdated shark taxonomy page, a monster list of shark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:
Long,
broadly rounded pectoral and first dorsal fins. Blotchy white colouration on
tips of pectoral, first dorsal, pelvic, and lower caudal fins. Second dorsal and
anal fin tipped in black. Dorsal colouration olive brown to bronze. Ventral surface
pale.
Size:
Maximum
length 3.95m. Usually under 3m.
60 to 75cm at birth.
Habitat:
Open Ocean. May cruise close to isolated islets but is not a common inshore
visitor. To at least 180m depth.
Abundance
and distribution: Circumtropical
and temperate. Recorded in the Western Atlantic from New York to Uruguay.
Commonly seen around the Hawaiian Islands. In some places most common open ocean
shark.
Behavior:Cruises over deep reefs and through open oceanic regions in search of
oceanic bony fishes such as tuna. Sometimes follows pods of pilot whales
probably due to their ability to find squid and may feed on injured individuals. Oceanic whitetips can lift
their noses out of the water and sniff the air to find prey over greater
distances than by following water borne scent trails. May congregate around food
sources such as whale carcasses (where it dominates similarly sized sharks such
as blues) but most often solitary.
Reproduction:
Viviparous.
Litter size 1 - 15 depending on the size of the mother. Gestation period around
12 months.
Observations:Often
seen with an escort of pilot fish.
Photographs:
East
Africa.
Similar species:
Only vaguely similar to the blue shark (Prionace glauca) which shares
much of its range.
Reaction to divers:An
extremely inquisitive shark. The Oceanic whitetip may circle swimmers or divers
repeatedly if it thinks it may have a potential meal. Extreme caution should be
shown around this animal especially larger individuals. It is responsible for
many attacks on ship wreck victims as documented after the sinking of the
ship Nova Scotia off the Natal Coast during the second world war.
Diving
logistics: Although
open ocean diving with Oceanic whitetips is a hit or miss affair some places
where they have been seen regularly by divers are: Hawaii's Kona Coast, Various Red Sea locations including Ras Mohammad, and Australia's
Jervis Bay. The Kona Agressor II offers a cage dive that is reputedly successful
year round.
Read the report submitted by Kevin Moore below.
Other diving locations submitted by
readers:
I have
attached a picture of an oceanic white-tip taken at elphinestone reef red sea
last month. This was one of five that have been hanging round this reef for
several months now. This one is not best pleased at my presence. Unfortunately
some idiots on a liveaboard were dangling a chicken on a rope teasing it up near
the surface and when it saw me, viewed me as a threat to it's meal. After a good
push into my camera and a second pass pushing into my shoulder I just gently
sank down a few metres and it seemed to accept this as me backing down and it
returned to it's chicken.
Have
several other pictures if required. Kevin Moore, Blackpool, UK.
Further
reading:
Paul
Humann - Reef Fish Identification. Florida Caribbean Bahamas.
Reef
Sharks and Rays of the World. Scott W. Michael. Sea Challengers.
Sharks
and Rays - Elasmobranch Guide of the World. Ralf M. Hennemann. IKAN.
