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constantly outdated shark taxonomy page, a monster list of shark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 nudibranchs. 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:
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.
Photographs:
Baie Comeau, Quebec.
Similar species:
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.
