THE INTRIGUING WORLD OF SHARKS

Thursday, February 25, 2010

BROADNOSE SEVENGILL SHARK


Cruises steadily along bays in search of food, moving in and out with the tides. Prefers low visibility - night, turbid water, overcast conditions. Known to aggregate possibly for mating. Preys on sharks and rays, bony fishes and marin. Broadnose Sevengill Sharks have been observed spy hopping - holding their heads above water and seeming to look around. This behavior is rare among sharks but has been regularly observed in Great White Sharks.

BLUE SHARKS


Blue sharks are among the most abundant and far-ranging of all sharks, found in tropical, subtropical and temperate waters of every ocean. They are known to migrate long distances, and prey primarily on schooling fish such as anchovies, sardines, herring and squid. Blue sharks will, however, attack virtually anything, including gill-netted salmon and wounded marine mammals.

BLACK TIP REEF SHARK


Active and strong swimming, the Pacific blacktip is typically found near the bottom or at midwater if swimming in deeper water. While swimming in particularly shallow waters, their protruding dorsal fins are readily identified by observers. They are often seen swimming alone or in small groups - though they are not a rigidly schooling species.

ANGEL SHARK

Angel sharks choose their resting sites based on their success at ambush hunting in a particular spot. Once selected they use their pectoral fins to dust away enough sand to create a depression that they can settle into. If hunting is good they will remain in the same spot for extended periods.