Sand shark

Sand shark
Sand tiger sharks
Temporal range: Upper Cretaceous–Recent
[1]
Sand tiger shark, Carcharias taurus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Lamniformes
Family: Odontaspididae
J. P. Müller & Henle, 1839
Genera

Carcharias
Odontaspis

Sand sharks, also known as sand tiger sharks or ragged tooth sharks, are lamniform sharks of the family Odontaspididae (or sometimes - but incorrectly - referred to as Carchariidae). They are found worldwide in temperate and tropical waters, including on both sides of the Atlantic coast, but most notably in the Western Indian Ocean and in the Gulf of Maine.[citation needed] There are four species in two genera. Sand sharks are the only shark known to surface for gulps of air. They store the air in their stomachs which allows them to float motionless in the water as they hunt for prey.

Contents

Description

Sand sharks have a large second dorsal fin. They grow up to 10 feet in adult length.[1] A Sand Shark can reach up to 200-350 pounds, which is quite light compared to other sharks. The body tends to be brown in color with dark markings in the upper half.These markings disappear as they mature. They possess a rudimentary swim bladder[citation needed] - a highly unusual feature in sharks - which enables them to have fine control over their buoyancy compared with other sharks. Their needle-like teeth are highly adapted for impaling fish, their main prey. Their teeth are long, narrow, and very sharp with smooth edges, with one and on occasion two small spurs, "denticles", on either side of the jaw.[2]

Reproduction

Sand sharks only develop two embryos, one in each uterus. The strongest pups eat other embryos and any other unfertilized eggs in a process called "intrauterine cannibalism" before being born. They have a gestation period of about 9 to 12 months. A female Sand Shark becomes sexually mature when she reaches 2 meters long. At birth, Sand Sharks are already 1 meter long.

Conservation

The sand tiger shark is managed by the Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan (FMP). However, sand tiger sharks have also been used for fishmeal and oil (from its liver), and its fins are used for the Asian sharkfin trade. Sand tigers are very susceptible to fishery exploitation because they aggregate in large numbers during the mating season at particular coastal spots. These aggregations have been targeted in the past by fisheries.

The sand tiger shark is a U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service species of concern. Species of Concern are those species about which the U.S. Government's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, has some concerns regarding status and threats, but for which insufficient information is available to indicate a need to list the species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

Species

The family contains four species, in two genera:

See also

Greyreefsharksmall2.jpg Sharks portal

References

  1. ^ a b Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2009). "Odontaspididae" in FishBase. January 2009 version.
  2. ^ Bigelow, Henry B.; Schroeder, William C. (1953). Fishes of the Gulf of Maine. United States Government Printing Office. http://www.gma.org/fogm/Carcharias_taurus.htm. Retrieved 30 October 2011. 
  3. ^ FishBase
  4. ^ FishBase
  5. ^ FishBase
  6. ^ FishBase

External links


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Sand shark — Sand Sand, n. [AS. sand; akin to D. zand, G. sand, OHG. sant, Icel. sandr, Dan. & Sw. sand, Gr. ?.] 1. Fine particles of stone, esp. of siliceous stone, but not reduced to dust; comminuted stone in the form of loose grains, which are not coherent …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sand shark — Shark Shark, n. [Of uncertain origin; perhaps through OF. fr. carcharus a kind of dogfish, Gr. karchari as, so called from its sharp teeth, fr. ka rcharos having sharp or jagged teeth; or perhaps named from its rapacity (cf. {Shark}, v. t. & i.); …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sand shark — noun shallow water shark with sharp jagged teeth found on both sides of Atlantic; sometimes dangerous to swimmers • Syn: ↑sand tiger, ↑Carcharias taurus, ↑Odontaspis taurus • Hypernyms: ↑shark • Member Holonyms: ↑Carcharias, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • sand shark — australinis smėlryklis statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Eugomphodus taurus angl. brown shark; gray nurse shark; sand shark; sand tiger shark; slender tooth shark; spotted ragged tooth shark rus.… …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

  • sand shark — Any of about six species of shallow water, bottom dwelling sharks in the genus Odontaspis (family Odontaspididae), found along tropical and temperate coastlines of all oceans. They are 10–20 ft (3–6 m) long and are brown or gray above, paler… …   Universalium

  • sand shark — noun 1》 a voracious brown spotted tropical Atlantic shark. [Odontaspis taurus.] 2》 a ray, dogfish, or small shark of shallow coastal waters …   English new terms dictionary

  • sand shark. — See sand tiger. [1880 85] * * * …   Universalium

  • sand shark. — See sand tiger. [1880 85] …   Useful english dictionary

  • Sand — Sand, n. [AS. sand; akin to D. zand, G. sand, OHG. sant, Icel. sandr, Dan. & Sw. sand, Gr. ?.] 1. Fine particles of stone, esp. of siliceous stone, but not reduced to dust; comminuted stone in the form of loose grains, which are not coherent when …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sand badger — Sand Sand, n. [AS. sand; akin to D. zand, G. sand, OHG. sant, Icel. sandr, Dan. & Sw. sand, Gr. ?.] 1. Fine particles of stone, esp. of siliceous stone, but not reduced to dust; comminuted stone in the form of loose grains, which are not coherent …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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