Not just a
huge collection of
Shark
Pictures:
Elasmodiver.com contains images of sharks, skates, rays, and a few
chimaera's from around the world. Elasmodiver began as a simple web
based
shark
field guide
to help divers find the best places to encounter the different
species of sharks and rays that live in shallow water but it has
slowly evolved into a much larger project containing information on
all aspects of shark diving and shark photography.
There are
now more than 10,000 shark pictures and sections on shark
evolution, biology, and conservation. There is a large library of
reviewed shark books, a constantly updated 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:
Identification:
A large, heavy bodied shark. Very low first and second dorsal fins set well back
on body. Snout broadly rounded. Small light blue eyes often with trailing
parasites. Dorsal coloration mottled grey/brown. Ventrum also mottled but
lighter. No dorsal spines.
Size:
Maximum length 8 meters (Largest squaloid and 4th largest shark) size at birth
40 cm.
Habitat:
From surface to at least 2200m on mud flats and rocky reefs. Enters shallow bays
and brackish river mouths possibly to feed. Temperature range from 1 - 12
degrees.
Distribution:
Arctic and North Atlantic Oceans. Eastern Canada and New England to Northern
Europe. Occasionally as far south as France.
Diet and behavior:
Moves sluggishly over seabed. May be prone to spurts of acceleration when
feeding as pinnipeds are part of diet. One animal had the remains of a caribou
in its stomach. Feeds on pelagic and bottom fishes (herring, Atlantic
salmon, Arctic char, capelin, redfish, sculpins, lumpfish, cod, haddock,
Atlantic halibut, Greenland halibut and skates, sharks and skates, seals and
small cetaceans, sea birds, squids, crabs, amphipods, marine snails, brittle
stars, sea urchins, and jellyfish. Possibly utilizes parasite to lure prey but
the parasitic copepod that attaches to eye has been shown not to be
bioluminescent.
Reproduction: Ovoviviparous.
Litter size from 1- 10. Low population doubling time - 14 years.
Conservation Status: The Greenland shark is considered NEAR THREATENED by
the IUCN. An extremely long-lived and slow-growing elasmobranch with
limited reproductive capacity. Historically targeted for its liver oil in
Norway, Iceland and Greenland with catches reaching 32,000 sharks/year in the
1910s in Greenland alone. These fisheries may have had a significant impact on
this species, but the rate of historical decline (if any) is unknown. Presently
taken as bycatch in trawl, gillnet and trap fisheries, as well as in Arctic
artisanal fisheries. Its population dynamics and biology are not well understood
but its large size and slow growth rate suggest it is vulnerable to fishing
pressure. This shark is listed as Near Threatened on the basis of possible
population declines and limiting life history characteristics. There is a need
to examine historical data and monitor current bycatch levels.
Reaction to divers:
Apparently curious. In Baie Comeau, Greenland sharks
slowly materialize from the depths and closely approach divers, sometimes
remaining within visibility for 20 minutes or more. If accidentally touched or
blocked, they are easily spooked. Some divers have used repetitive banging
noises to attract the sharks. Greenland Sharks retreat from bright lights and
camera flashes.
Diving logistics:
The only place to reliably dive with Greenland Sharks is in a few small bays
around Baie Comeau in Quebec, Canada. Silvain Sirois leads trips during the
summer months that have a good rate of success but sometimes the sharks show up
late in the season or leave early.
Non-english names:
小头睡鲨(大西洋睡鲨)China Mandarin Chinese
小頭睡鯊(大西洋睡鯊)China Mandarin Chinese
Almindelig HavkalDenmarkDanish
EishaiGermanyGerman
EkalugssuakGreenlandInuktitut
Ekalugssûp piarâGreenlandInuktitut
EkalukjuakCan QuebecInuktitut
EqaludjuaqCan QuebecInuktitut
EqalugssuaqGreenlandInuktitut
EqaluksuaqGreenlandInuktitut
EqalukuakCanadaInuktitut
EqalussuaqGreenlandGreenlandic
EqalusuaqGreenlandInuktitut
Groenlandse haaiNetherlandsDutch
Groenlandse haaiSouth AfricaAfrikaans
Groenlandse haaiTurkeyTurkish
GrönlandhaiGermanyGerman
Ground sharkUKEnglish
GrønlandshajDenmarkDanish
HåkäringSwedenSwedish
HákarlIcelandIcelandic
HákellingFaeroe IsFaroese
HåkjerringNorwayNorwegian
HavkalDenmarkDanish
HolkeriFinlandFinnish
IqalugjuaqCanadaInuktitut
IqalujjuaqCanadaInuktitut
IqalukuakCanadaInuktitut
LaimargueCanadaFrench
Laimargue du GroenlandFranceFrench
OakettleUKEnglish
Rechin de GroelandaRomaniaRumanian
Rekin polarnyPolandPolish
Squalo di Groenlandia lemargoItalyItalian
Tiburón borealSpainSpanish
Tollo borealSpainSpanish
Tollo de GroenlandiaSpainSpanish
Tubarao da GronelândiaPortugalPortuguese
Tubarao de GronelândiaPortugalPortuguese
Tubarão-da-noitePortugalPortuguese
References:
Kyne, P.M., Sherrill-Mix, S.A. & Burgess, G.H. 2006.
Somniosus microcephalus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2006:
e.T60213A12321694. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2006.RLTS.T60213A12321694.en.
Downloaded on 26 June 2018.