§22. Class Cartilaginous fish (orders Sharks, Rays, Chimeraformes)
The scientific name of this creature is the common sawfly. The sawfish belongs to the family of cartilaginous fish (like the shark) and to the superorder of stingrays. This creation received its name and wide popularity thanks to its appearance. The sawfish has an elongated body, strikingly similar to a shark, but perhaps the most striking external sign What distinguishes it from other fish and rays is the so-called “saw” - a long and flat outgrowth of the snout, on the sides of which there are sharp teeth of the same size. It is curious that this “saw” is almost a quarter of the body length of the entire fish! The sawfish's skin has various shades of gray-olive color, and its belly is almost white.
The shark-like body of the sawfish has 2 fins on each side and 2 dorsal fins. triangular shape. In some species of saw-tailed rays, the tail part smoothly passes into the body, merging with it, but there are also species in which the tail and body are divided into two sections by the caudal fin. It is curious that the similarity of these fish with sharks does not end only with the shape of their body: sawfish, like sharks, have skin covered with placoid scales. Currently, only 7 species of saw-tailed rays are known: green, Atlantic, European, smalltooth, Australian, Asian and combed.
Where do sawfish live?
The sawfish feels comfortable in both fresh and salt waters, and lives in all oceans except the Arctic Ocean. Favorite place saw-fingered rays – coastal waters. This creature is difficult to find in the open oceans. Sawfish love to bask in shallow water. It is curious that 5 of the 7 currently known species of sawfish live off the coast of Australia. Australian species In general, sawfish have long been accustomed to fresh water bodies, without swimming into the ocean. The only place where saw-throated rays cannot live is water contaminated with various garbage and waste.
Sawfish and sawnose shark are not the same thing!
Saw-nose rays are often confused with saw-nose sharks. These are not the same fish! Of course, sharks are the closest relatives of rays, since they belong to the same family of cartilaginous fish, but these are two different types underwater animals. The sawnose shark's snout is elongated and flattened, similar to a sword, and studded with large teeth. This creature lives in warm waters ah Indian and Pacific oceans. Sawfish are bottom-dwelling and slow-moving fish that feed on small fish and small bottom-dwelling animals.
Sawmills are considered more big fish than sawnoses. A case is described in which a sawfish weighing 2400 kg and 6 m long was caught! For comparison: sawwhiskers rarely grow to 1.5 m in length. Sawfish, like their “comrades” the sawfish, feed on small animals living in the ground. They dig them out of the mud with their "saw", using it both as a shovel and as a rake. Often the sawfish wields its nose like a saber or sword, bursting into a school of small mullet or sardines, and then swallows the “defeated” enemies.
Sawfish is an ovoviviparous fish
Sawfish belong to ovoviviparous fish: their young are born as fully formed fish, but located in the shell of a leathery egg. Zoologists who observed saw-throated rays found that their females can give birth to up to 20 young at a time! The “saw” of these fry is formed in the womb, but their stigma is still very soft, and the teeth are completely hidden by the skin and harden only with time. By the way, in the same way
stingray
The stingray is a relative of the shark, but it does not look like a fish at all. It’s as if a large roller rolled over the poor guy and flattened him, turning him into a huge pancake or colored carpet. Raising and lowering its wing-like pectoral lateral fins in waves, it flies over the bottom like a fairy-tale bird. At the same time, he sees everything perfectly and is even able to detect changes in electric fields created by living organisms. Here is a flounder lying in the sand, here is a crab making its way past the corals, and oysters are buried nearby. All this can be food for the stingray. A true bottom dweller, he himself is capable of lying on the bottom, dozing or carefully observing the situation. Sprinkled with sand, the stingray becomes completely invisible to an unwary fish swimming past. If someone touches him or tries to offend him, the stingray flaps long tail and... stabs the offender with a poisonous tail spike. This is his weapon in the fight for life. The wound caused by the thorn is very dangerous, and the poison is so strong that it can paralyze the victim! The remains of such spines stick out in the snouts of many sharks.
Like sharks, the stingray has a cartilaginous skeleton. The eyes are located at the top and look like two tubercles. And the mouth and gills are below. When a stingray breathes, water is drawn into the mouth from above, through two squirt holes - holes behind the eyes, and comes out from below - through the gills. The mouth is designed in such a way that it is convenient for them, like a scoop, to pick up prey from the bottom.
The Red Sea is also home to eagle rays, electric rays and giant manta rays(they are also called frilled devils, sea devils or horned devils). The latter weigh about two tons and have a wingspan of more than 6 meters! They are completely harmless, they live in upper layers seas, feed on plankton, shrimp, and small fish. Sometimes manta rays jump out of the water and fly 4-5 meters through the air, scaring people. In reality, they are simply trying to stun dense schools of fish, which they then collect. The terrifying horns of the sea devil are nothing more than head fins. With these blades, the manta creates a direction for the flow of water into the mouth. This is how she breathes and gets food.
Eagle rays (Aetobatus narinari) prefer to swim at medium depths. They have a diamond-shaped body and a whip-like tail with a poisonous spike. The pectoral fins look like the wings of a large bird.
Eagle ray
Electric rays, like stingrays, are bottom dwellers. Their bright colors attract the attention of many divers. However, with these marine life you need to be very careful. After all, with the help of special organs similar to batteries, they are capable of generating and storing electricity. You may be struck for being too curious electrical discharge at 200-300 volts with two kilowatts of power or more! These organs are located in the front part of the disc-shaped body of the stingray, between the anterior protrusion of the pectoral fin and the head, one on each side. Their outlines are usually clearly visible from the outside on both the ventral and dorsal sides.
Electric Stingray
One of the families of electric stingrays is called "narcos". From Greek name These creatures - narke ("striking", "striking", "leading to numbness") gave rise to the modern term "drug". Servants ancient god Aesculapius's healing methods used the method of shock therapy through contact with a narke stingray ("narcotization") to treat certain diseases. One of the smallest cartilaginous fish belongs to the genus Narke - the Indian electric stingray, reaching a length of 13.5 centimeters. It is found in the Indian Ocean, near India, off the coast of Vietnam, China and southern Japan.
The largest of the electric stingrays is considered to be the black Torpedo nobiliana, which lives in the North Atlantic. It reaches 1.8 meters in length and weighs about 100 kilograms. With his electric discharge he is capable of killing any animal that happens to be near him. If one hundred electric lamps are connected in parallel to such a ramp, they will all flare up at once and will flare for three seconds, gradually fading away. One shock lasts three hundredths of a second, but stingrays prefer to give a series of shocks (from 12 to 100) in a continuous burst. Moreover, each new category is weaker than the previous one.
Many stingrays moved to permanent place residence in large rivers. Yes, he lives in Australia freshwater stingray- saw saw. And in the basin of the great Amazon lives a whole family of stingray potamotrigons. These river stingrays are very calm, small in size, with unusual shape body and bright, “carpet” colors. Today, two varieties of stingrays are widely represented in hobbyist aquariums: motoro (chocolate-colored with yellow spots in a dark border) and histrix (sand color with marble stains). Both in their native rivers grow to a little over a meter, but with home care remain within 30-50 centimeters. It is very interesting to watch such creatures.
"Living carpets" or stingrays." Candidate biological sciences V. KLIMOV.
"Science and Life", No. 5, 2007
http://www.nkj.ru/archive/articles/10241/
Fish related to sharks also live in the World Ocean. The closest relatives of sharks are stingrays. With their flat bodies, they resemble sharks called angelfish. A group of fish called chimeras are also related to sharks.
This common eagle ray swims by flapping its pectoral fins.
WHAT DO RAYS AND SHARKS HAVE IN COMMON?
Like sharks, the skeleton of stingrays consists of an elastic substance. Stingrays, like sharks, are able to pick up electrical signals from other animals and use gills for breathing. However, many stingrays, unlike sharks, have poisonous spines on their tails, with which they protect themselves from large fish.
HOW DO STORIES SWIM?
Stingrays swim differently than sharks. Some stingrays flap their wide pectoral fins up and down - like birds' wings. Others are propelled forward by wave-like movements along the edge of their pectoral fins from head to tail.
This American stingray rests on the sandy floor of the Atlantic Ocean.
ELECTRIC RATES
Some stingrays are capable of delivering electric shocks, both to protect themselves from predators and to stun or kill prey. Hit electric stingray so strong that a diver who accidentally touches a fish hiding at the bottom of the sea may lose consciousness.
GIANT MANTA RAY
The giant manta ray, also known as the sea devil, looks especially impressive. Its width is about 7m - this is wider than four cars parked side by side. Like the most large sharks, it also feeds on plankton and is not dangerous to humans.
Here you can see two huge blades located in front of the eyes of this manta ray. The stingray needs them in order to direct plankton directly into the mouth.
ELEPHANTS
Chimeras are also relatives of sharks, but more distant than stingrays. Most chimera species live on great depth. They also find prey by picking up its electrical signals, and are distinguished from other fish by their flexible skeleton, consisting of an elastic substance. Some of them look completely unusual - these are collorhynchas, whose snout resembles an elephant's trunk.
This stuporous chimera (less commonly called callorhynchus) lives in great depths off the coast of New Zealand.
Stingrays, like sharks, are among the most ancient fish. They are unique in that they do not use their tail to swim, as other fish do. Stingrays move only due to the movements of their fins, reminiscent of butterflies.
Most stingrays live in sea water, however, there are also several freshwater species.
Stingrays are characterized by a very “flattened” body and large pectoral fins fused to the head. The mouth, nostrils and five pairs of gills are on the flat and usually light-colored underside.
The upper side of stingrays is adapted in color to a particular living space and can vary from light sand to black.
Stingrays can be found in different parts of our earth. They are even found off the coasts of Antarctica and in the Arctic Ocean.
The size of stingrays varies from a few centimeters to several meters, and the “wingspan” of some stingrays can be more than 2 meters.
One of the most known species One of the most popular stingrays is the Manta Ray, whose wingspan can reach 2.5 meters and length - up to 5 meters! Stingrays from the stingray family are also very large and reach 2.1 meters in width and up to 5.5 meters in length. A relatively large stingray - Catfish- found in the Azov and Black Seas.
Stingrays are very ancient fish. They are relatives of sharks, and the closest relatives, although external similarities and is not observed. By internal staff Stingrays, like sharks, are not made of bones, but of cartilage.
In ancient times, stingrays were similar to sharks not only internal structure, but also external features. But time has changed them beyond recognition.
Most stingrays lead a bottom-dwelling lifestyle and feed on mollusks and crustaceans.
Stingrays have a unique respiratory system. If you take other fish, they breathe with gills. However, if the stingray tried to do the same, then along with the air it would also suck in the sand lying at the bottom. That's why stingrays breathe differently. Air enters the stingray's body through special sprays that are located on the back.
There are about 350 species of sharks in the world, as well as many species of rays, which belong to the same order SILACHIA with sharks. Classify this huge detachment, clearly find each species and subspecies specific place, is sometimes an impossible task. All selachians are divided into a number of families, where members of one family have common character traits. Let us dwell on a number of main families and their types.
Family - frilled sharks
Very rare view. Thanks to the strange “collar”, long slim body and a snake-like head, it looks more like a reptile. The only species of frilled shark was found in the coastal waters of Japan and the Eastern Atlantic. This shark is deep-sea and feeds on octopuses. She is ovoviviparous. The intrauterine development of the baby lasts two years. The largest of the representatives of this family reached 2 meters in length.
Family - combtooth sharks
Sixgill shark
Of the many known sharks, none is more reminiscent of its prehistoric ancestors than the combtooth. There is currently only one species of combtooth shark in the world (the sixgill shark in the photo). Found in the continental waters of the Eastern and Western Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Mostly deep-sea. Her the average size reaches 5 meters.
Family - sand sharks
The family includes 2 species that are almost indistinguishable from each other, but live in different hemispheres. If you are not familiar with this species of sharks and their behavior, then you should stay away from them.
The Australian Sand Shark is one of the most... dangerous sharks in the world's oceans. Its length reaches 4.5 meters. The teeth come in many rows, are long, thin and curve inward. Its closest relative is the sand shark, which uses its teeth like lightning and is sluggish and slow. But previously it was considered safe for swimmers. The first sand shark attack was recorded in 1961 in the United States. Sand sharks feed on fish. An adult reaches 3 meters in length. Top part the body is gray-brown, the belly is dirty white. On the sides there are round or oval yellow-brown eyes. Sand sharks are found in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, off the coasts of Western, Southern and East Africa, along the entire coast of North America.
Family - rhinoceros sharks
The rhinoceros shark is a member of a family considered long extinct. Very little is known about her. They are found in deep places off the coasts of Japan, Portugal, and India. The largest representative of this species known to scientists reached 4 meters.
Family - herring sharks
Members of this family have a large torpedo-shaped body. The most famous representative of this dangerous family is the great White shark. 
It is distinguished from its relatives by its huge jagged teeth and reputation as a cannibal. Its size sometimes exceeds 12 meters. The length of the teeth is about 5 cm. The great white shark often swallows its prey whole. They usually feed on sea turtles and seals. However, what was not found in their stomach...
The great white is especially often found in the seas of the southern hemisphere.
The mako shark also belongs to this family. 
This is one of the strongest and fastest sharks. With a length of 3 meters, the weight reaches 450 kg. She often jumps out of the water into the air. This shark is found in the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans. There have been cases where makos have even attacked small boats.
Mako cubs are born fully formed. 
Herring sharks have a streamlined shape, reach 3.5 meters in length and are also very dangerous to humans. Found off the coast South Africa, Australia and even the North Sea.
Family - basking sharks
Family - sea foxes
The sea fox's main weapon is its huge tail, since its jaws are relatively weak and its teeth are very small. sea fox- the only shark that uses its tail to get food. You can often see how it crushes fish with its tail, so that it can then be swallowed without hindrance. It feeds on herring, mackerel and other small fish.
The sea fox reaches 6 meters in length. Weight about 400kg. These sharks swim close to the surface, sometimes jumping out of the water.
Family - nurse sharks
They are often found in flocks, huddled close to each other. They are found in the Atlantic Ocean at shallow depths near the bottom. It feeds on shellfish, shrimp, crabs, lobsters and small fish swimming by. They are generally safe for people. Nurse sharks reach 3 meters in size. Their colors may vary slightly (from yellow to gray-brown), as they serve as camouflage. A fringe of fleshy antennae grows around the mouth. 
The zebra shark is also a member of the nurse shark family. It can be up to 3 meters in size. She is oviparous.
Family - whale sharks
They amaze with their size. The length sometimes exceeds 20 meters. Feeds whale shark crustaceans and small fish. The whale shark has a huge number of small teeth, but they cannot bite or crush food... they are created in order to hold in the mouth what gets there along with the water. Almost nothing is known about how the whale shark reproduces. It is found in tropical zones Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans.
Family - cat sharks
It is still unknown exactly how many species this family has. They are found in all seas and oceans of the world. Cat sharks are oviparous. Most species are small in size (less than a meter).
Family - smooth mustelid sharks
This family includes more than 30 species of sharks. The size of the family members does not exceed 1.5 meters. These sharks are found on the east and west coasts of America, off south coast New England. They feed on lobsters and crabs. The smooth mustelid is very sensitive to changes in temperature, and its emigration is often dependent on this. They are found mainly in coastal waters, at a depth of no more than 20 meters. This is one of the few families whose representatives can change color.
Family - gray sharks
This is the largest family of sharks with more than 60 species. Sharks of this family are also called mourning sharks, since a meeting with them often ends in death.
Brown shark.
They are found in the Atlantic Ocean, often off the coast in summer. And also in the Mediterranean Sea. Sometimes they even go into the canals of Venice. They prefer to produce their offspring in places protected from waves. Adult brown sharks weigh about 90kg and are 2.5 meters long. They are gray-brown with a sandy belly.
Bull gray shark.
From May to August, female gray bull sharks converge at the mouth of the Mississippi and give birth to their young. They wander lazily in the shallow waters near the docks. This shark swims very slowly and is a sea scavenger, but when force is needed to get prey, it chases the victim and deals with it. They grow up to 3 meters, weighing about 180 kg. Found in the Atlantic Ocean.
Blue shark.
Blue shark reaches 4-6 meters in length. Although it is an oceanic fish, it sometimes comes to the shores in pursuit of prey, which is an extremely alarming fact. It is found in the Atlantic. It is not difficult to notice them, since their tail and fin usually stick out from the water. She is very beautiful blue color, turning white towards the belly. It is also quite common off the coast of Africa. The blue shark's menu includes very exotic dishes like flying fish and seabirds. Like most sharks, it is viviparous.
Tiger shark.
Considered one of the most dangerous sharks. Most attacks on people occur by these sharks. When grabbing its prey, the omnivorous tiger shark makes rotational movements. powerful jaws, so that its teeth cut even large prey into several pieces. Thanks to this, a 3.5 meter tiger shark can eat another shark. This shark is the most common in tropical waters. It often appears off the coast and even enters narrow straits. The most large individuals are found in the Indian Ocean and reach 9 meters in length. Its habit of scouring shallow waters in search of food, which poses a serious threat to swimmers. Young sharks have brown spots, or stripes, on their sides, which fade with age. The body of an adult is gray.
Family - hammerhead sharks
The hammerhead shark, with its flat head divided into two lobes, appears to be the embodiment of evil.
To breed its offspring, this shark chooses places popular with swimmers, such as the Hawaiian Islands. Hammerhead sharks are very prolific. Dimensions are on average 4.5 meters. Found everywhere in warm waters (Atlantic, Indian oceans).
Family - spiny sharks
Most species of sharks from this family have a spine protruding in front of the dorsal fin; it is very poisonous and dangerous. They live in schools and feed on fish. Spiny sharks not great. Mostly 60-90cm. They are born in winter on the open sea. They prefer cold waters, so they often go deep. Found in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Also appears off the coast of New Zealand and Australia.
There are also many sharks in the lakes and rivers. It is possible that they do not live there, but simply swim there. It is also known that gray bull sharks love to enter fresh waters. From fresh waters, sharks mainly live in two places: Lake Nicaragua, Lake Managua. There is no answer to the question why yet. Sharks were also encountered in fresh waters Japan, South America, India and Se
(Galeocerdo cuvieri)
Lives in tropical and subtropical waters of all oceans.
The longest measured length of this shark is 4.8 m, although there are indications that it could be much larger - up to 9 m.
This shark is ovoviviparous and very fertile. The female brings 30-50 and even 82 cubs. The juveniles that are born are small in size - only 45-48 cm.
The tiger shark is found both in the open ocean and off the coast. In search of food, it can enter shallow bays and even river mouths, sometimes being caught at a depth not exceeding several meters. This is a rather slow animal, but becomes fast and agile when it smells food. Being very voracious and indiscriminate in food, this shark eats crabs, lobsters, bivalves and gastropods, squid, a wide variety of fish (including sharks smaller than itself), sea turtles, and in general any available loot. Cannibalism is also quite common for this species. In the stomachs of tiger sharks they found dogs, cormorants, sea snakes, pieces of dolphins and crocodiles, cats, various rags, boots, beer bottles, potatoes, bags of coal, and tin cans.
In tropical waters it is perhaps the most dangerous look. There are many known cases where body parts of human victims were found in the stomachs of caught sharks.
BLUE SHARK
(Prionace glauca)
It is found in all oceans, but is more common in subtropical and warm temperate waters. Most often it is found at a temperature of 10-15° and, accordingly, in the warmed waters of the tropics it does not stay near the surface, but at some depth.
The maximum body length does not exceed 3.8 m.
This usually relatively sedentary shark is completely transformed at the sight of food. It feeds on fish and cephalopods, as well as any other prey it can find. The blue shark is viviparous, and the number of embryos can vary greatly - from 4 to 54 pieces. The length of baby sharks at birth is about 30 cm.
The blue shark is generally considered dangerous, but there are almost no reliable cases of attacks on humans.
It has little commercial significance and is used as food in some countries (Japan).
(Rhizoprionodon acutus)
Distributed in the eastern part of the Atlantic Ocean: from Madeira and Mauritania to Angola. In Indian and western parts Pacific Oceans: From the Red Sea and East Africa to Indonesia, north to Japan and south to Australia.
Reaches 175 cm in length. Maximum life expectancy is 8 years.
It feeds mainly on small pelagic and bottom fish, as well as cephalopods and other invertebrates.
BRAZILIAN SHARK SHARK
(Rhizoprionodon lalandei)
Distributed in the Western Atlantic: from Panama to Brazil.
Reaches 70 cm in length.
Belongs to viviparous species. Brings from 1 to 4 sharks, 33-34 cm in size.
SICKLE LEMON SHARK
(Negaprion acutidens)
Distributed in the Indian and Pacific Oceans: from the Red Sea and South Africa to the Philippines, north to Vietnam and south to Australia.
Reaches 380 cm in length, with a maximum weight of 11 kg.
SHOVELNOSE SHARK
(Scoliodon laticaudus)
Distributed in the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans: from Somalia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Pakistan to Indonesia.
Reaches 1 m in length. Maximum life expectancy is 6 years.
It lives on the rocky bottom of coastal waters and sometimes enters tropical rivers.
(Galeorhinus galeus)
Distributed in the western part of the Atlantic Ocean: from Southern Brazil to Argentina. In the eastern Atlantic Ocean: from Iceland to South Africa, including the Mediterranean Sea. In the western part Indian Ocean. In the Pacific Ocean: along the coasts of Australia and New Zealand, Hawaii, British Columbia, Canada, Peru, Chile.
Reaches 193 cm in length, with a maximum weight of 45 kg. The maximum recorded life expectancy is 55 years.
It feeds on fish (bottom and pelagic species), crustaceans, cephalopods, worms and echinoderms. The liver oil of soup sharks is high in vitamins A and D, and during the Second World War, when cod fishing areas in the North Atlantic were inaccessible, fishing for these fish quickly developed off the western coast of America.
BUTT SHARK
(Carcharhinus leucas)
Widely distributed in warm oceans, rivers and lakes. In the western part of the Atlantic Ocean: from Massachusetts (USA) to Southern Brazil. In the eastern part of the Atlantic Ocean: from Morocco and Senegal to Angola. In the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans: from Kenya and South Africa to India, and from Vietnam to Australia. In the eastern Pacific: from Mexico to Ecuador.
Reaches 3.6 m in length, with a maximum weight of 317 kg. Maximum life expectancy is 28 years.
The blunt-nosed shark and its relatives, along with live prey (fish and crabs), devour any waste. It is dangerous for humans. Especially many attacks were noted in the waters of South Africa.
BLACK TIP SHARK
(Carcharhinus limbatus)
Distributed in the western part of the Atlantic Ocean: from Canada to Brazil. In the eastern part of the Atlantic: from Senegal to the Congo, Madeira, the Canary Islands and Mediterranean Sea. In the Indian and Pacific Oceans: from the Red Sea, Madagascar and South Africa to China, Australia, Tahiti and Hawaii. In the eastern Pacific: from California and Mexico to Peru.
Reaches 275 cm in length, with a maximum weight of 123 kg. Maximum life expectancy is 12 years.
It feeds mainly on pelagic and bottom fish, small sharks, cephalopods and crustaceans.
COPPER SHARK
(Carcharhinus brachyurus)
Distributed in the Western Atlantic: from Mexico and Brazil to Argentina. In the Eastern Atlantic: from France to South Africa, excluding the Mediterranean. In the Western Pacific: from Japan to New Zealand. In the eastern Pacific: from Southern California (USA) to Mexico and Peru.
Reaches 3.2 m in length, with a maximum weight of 305 kg.
In terms of lifestyle it is close to previous species.
It is a species dangerous to humans.
BLACKNOSE SHARK
(Carcharhinus acronotus)
Distributed in the Western Atlantic: from North Carolina (USA) to Southern Brazil, excluding the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.
Reaches 2 m in length, with a maximum weight of 19 kg.
Lives on sandy and coral bottoms. Feeds on small fish.
(Carcharhinus albimarginatus)
Distributed in the western Indian Ocean. In the Western Pacific: from Southern Japan to Northern Australia and French Polynesia. In the eastern Pacific: from Mexico to Colombia.
Reaches 3 m in length, with a maximum weight of 163 kg.
BIG NOSE SHARK
(Carcharhinus altimus)
Distributed in the Western Atlantic: from Florida, USA to Venezuela. In the Eastern Atlantic: from Senegal to Ghana, excluding the Mediterranean Sea. In the western Indian Ocean (Red Sea, Mozambique, South Africa, Madagascar, India). In the Western Pacific (China, Taiwan, Australia). In the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean: (Gulf of California, Southern Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador).
Reaches 3 m in length, with a maximum weight of 168 kg.
GRAY REEF SHARK
(Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)
Distributed in the Indian (from the Red Sea to South Africa) and Pacific oceans.
Reaches 2.5 m in length, weighing 34 kg. Maximum life expectancy is 25 years.
PIG-EYED SHARK
(Carcharhinus amboinensis)
Distributed in the Eastern Atlantic. In the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans (South Africa, Madagascar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Australia).
Reaches 280 cm in length.
SILKY SHARK
(Carcharhinus falciformis)
Distributed in the western part of the Atlantic Ocean: from Massachusetts (USA) to Brazil, excluding the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. In the Eastern Atlantic: from Spain and Madeira to Northern Angola. In the Indian and Pacific Oceans: from the Red Sea and southern Africa to China and New Zealand.
Reaches 3.5 m in length, with a maximum weight of 346 kg. Maximum life expectancy is 25 years.
SPOT TAIL SHARK
(Carcharhinus sorrah)
Distributed in the Indian and Pacific Oceans: from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Philippines, Northern China and South Australia.
Reaches 1.6 m in length. Weight Limit 28 kg. Life expectancy is about 8 years.
SPINNER SHARK
(Carcharhinus brevipinna)
Distributed in the Western Atlantic: from Northern California to the Gulf of Mexico and the Bahamas and from Southern Brazil to Northern Argentina. In the Eastern Atlantic: from Spain to Namibia. In the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans: from the Red Sea south to South Africa and east to Indonesia, Northern Japan, South Australia.
Reaches 3 m in length, with a maximum weight of 90 kg.
SANDBAR SHARK
(Carcharhinus plumbeus)
Distributed in the Western Atlantic from: Massachusetts south to Brazil. In the Eastern Atlantic: from Portugal to Congo, excluding the Mediterranean. In the Indian and Pacific Oceans: from the Red Sea, Persian Gulf and West Africa to the Hawaiian Islands.
Reaches 2.5 m in length, with a maximum weight of 118 kg.
BLACK TIP REEF SHARK
(Carcharhinus melanopterus)
Distributed in the Indian and Pacific Oceans: from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands.
Reaches 2 m in length. Maximum weight - 14 kg.
It feeds on crustaceans, cephalopods and other mollusks.
SMALL TAIL SHARK
(Carcharhinus porosus)
Distributed in the Western Atlantic: from the Gulf of Mexico to Southern Brazil. In the eastern Pacific: from the Gulf of California to Peru.
Reaches 1.5 m in length.
DARK SHARK
(Carcharhinus obscurus)
Distributed in the Western Atlantic: from Massachusetts to Florida (USA), Cuba, Gulf of Mexico, Nicaragua and Southern Brazil. In the eastern Atlantic Ocean: ( Canary Islands, Senegal, Sierra Leone). In the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans: from the Red Sea, Mozambique and South Africa to Japan, China, Vietnam and Australia.
GALAPAGOS SHARK
(Carcharhinus galapagensis)
Distributed in the eastern Atlantic, western Indian and western Pacific oceans.
Reaches 370 cm in length, weighing 86 kg.
CARIBBEAN REEF SHARK
(Carcharhinus perezi)
In the Western Atlantic: from Florida (USA) to southern Brazil, excluding the Gulf of Mexico and the Antilles.
Reaches 3 m in length. Maximum weight 70 kg.
LONGWING SHARK
(Carcharhinus longimanus)
It is one of the true oceanic fish and almost never approaches the shores. This is the most abundant thermophilic shark of the surface layers of the open ocean, living throughout the tropical zone.
Reaches 3.5-4 m in length, but smaller individuals up to 1.5-2 m long and weighing 20-60 kg are usually found.
This shark reproduces by viviparity, bringing only a few (5-7) embryos up to 40 cm long. Its food consists mainly of various fish (in particular tuna) and squid, as well as any available waste. Longtip sharks are very tenacious. A caught and gutted shark, being thrown overboard, continues to swim near the ship as if nothing had happened and can even grab the baited hook again. This species may be considered dangerous to humans, but due to the lack of swimmers in the open ocean where it lives, recorded attacks are very rare.
