SHARKS (From Page 24) There Are Close to 500 Species of Sharks

SHARKS (from page 24) There are close to 500 species of sharks worldwide, Wetherbee Blue shark. These oceanic sharks are long and skinny and said. They range in size from the 8-inch dwarf dogshark to the 60- can grow to be 13 feet in length and weigh 450 pounds. These foot whale shark. Their habitat ranges from coastal areas to the “beautiful” sharks are excellent swimmers. Mating between males open ocean, from Arctic waters to tropical seas, from surface and females is waters to abyssal depths. violent, as the males often bite Spiny and smooth dogfish. Despite sharing the same surname, the females. To these two coastal shark species aren’t closely related. Dogfish withstand the get their violence of name mating, the because female's skin is they often three times as thick as that of their male counterparts. Although travel and not good to eat, blues are the world’s most fished shark species. hunt in They are harvested for their fins, skin, tails and flesh. Their teeth packs. Both and jaws are also harvested for commercial uses. species migrate into the area in the warmer months, and a few remain Mako shark. This oceanic species is one of the fastest fish in through the winter. They have little teeth, and can grow to be 5 the ocean, with speeds up to 40 mph or so. They also are a feet long. Spiny dogfish can arch their backs and inject venom popular seafood into predators from their dorsal spines. Thousands are harvested worldwide. They can annually for use in U.K. fish and chips. The Atlantic spiny dogfish grow to be 12 feet in fishery is the largest shark fishery in the United States. length and weigh up to a 1,000 pounds. Sandbar shark. This coastal shark species — also known as Their range is large, the brown shark — migrates to the region in the summer. They which makes can grow to be 8 studying makos feet long, and difficult. These “they have sharp sharks are considered one of the great game fishes of the world, teeth that can do and their flesh is considered among the best to eat. Mako sharks a lot of damage if are a common bycatch in the tuna and swordfish fisheries. you get bitten.” They can be Thresher shark. This oceanic species is rarely seen near caught from the shore, and can jump out of the water if provoked or threatened. beach or a boat. Often found in harbors, bays and the mouths of They can grow rivers, sandbar sharks prefer protected waters and smooth, sandy to be 18 feet bottoms. Adults have few predators. long, but half that length is tail. Their tails Sand tiger shark. This coastal species is closely related to alone can weigh white and mako sharks. In the summer, they can be found in up to 750 pounds. Thresher sharks have been observed to use Narragansett Bay, around Block Island, and off Point Judith and their long tails to herd, disorient and stun prey at or near the Napatree surface, and they are often caught on longlines tailhooked. They Point. They can live a long time (20–50 years), reproduce late in life and only can grow to have a few young at a time. Their range is large. be 10 feet long. They Basking shark. This oceanic species is a filter feeder, swim slowly, are swimming with its mouth open as water — filled with plankton, easy to small fish and fish eggs — flows through. An adult shark can keep in captivity and can be seen in aquariums throughout the process more than world. Although this species is widespread and isn’t widely fished 1,500 gallons of water for food, it has one of the lowest reproduction rates of all sharks an hour. These sharks — the young cannibalize each other in their mother’s womb. Sand have hundreds of tiny tigers are listed as vulnerable and they are protected in much of teeth. They can grow their range. to be 45 feet in length and can weigh up to 4 tons. (to page 33) - 32 - R.I.S.A.A. / November, 2015.

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