Scientific Papers

Foraging behaviour of the epaulette shark is not affected by elevated CO2

Foraging behaviour of the epaulette shark is not affected by elevated CO2

Published online on 08. May 2015 Foraging behaviour of the epaulette shark Hemiscyllium ocellatum is not affected by elevated CO2 Dennis D. U. Heinrich, Sue-Ann Watson, Jodie L. Rummer, Simon J. Brandl, Colin A. Simpfendorfer, Michelle R. Heupel, Philip L. Munday ABSTRACT: Increased oceanic uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) is a threat to marine

Discovery of a pupping site and nursery for critically endangered green sawfish

Discovery of a pupping site and nursery for critically endangered green sawfish

Published online on 06. May 2015 Discovery of a pupping site and nursery for critically endangered green sawfish Pristis zijsron D. L. Morgan, M. G. Allen, B. C. Ebner, J. M. Whitty, S. J. Beatty ABSTRACT: A pilot study targeting sawfishes in the southern Pilbara region of Western Australia, which is undergoing a major expansion

First record of total albinism in southern stingray Dasyatis americana

First record of total albinism in southern stingray Dasyatis americana

Published in April 2015 First record of total albinism in southern stingray Dasyatis americana Armando T. Wakida-Kusunoki ABSTRACT: This paper describes the first record of total albinism in the southern stingray Dasyatis americana. The disc width of the albino sub adult female specimen was 640 mm and the total weight was 9,850 g. It was

Fatal tiger shark attack in New Caledonia erroneously ascribed to great white shark

Fatal tiger shark attack in New Caledonia erroneously ascribed to great white shark

Published online on 28. April 2015 Fatal tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvier attack in New Caledonia erroneously ascribed to great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias Philippe Tirard, Claude Maillaud, Philippe Borsa ABSTRACT: To understand the causes and patterns of shark attacks on humans, accurate identification of the shark species involved is necessary. Often, the only reliable evidence

First observations of dusky sharks attacking a humpback whale calf

First observations of dusky sharks attacking a humpback whale calf

Published online on 04. May 2015 First observations of dusky sharks (Carcharhinus obscurus) attacking a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) calf M. L. Dicken, A. A. Kock, M. Hardenberg ABSTRACT: Direct observations of sharks attacking mysticetes are rare. The present study provides the first direct observation of dusky sharks (Carcharhinus obscurus) attacking a humpback whale (Megaptera

Occurrence of the Thresher Alopias vulpinus from the Northeastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey

Occurrence of the Thresher Alopias vulpinus from the Northeastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey

Published online on 13. April 2015 Occurrence of the Thresher Alopias vulpinus (Bonnaterre, 1788) from the Northeastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey Deniz Ergüden, Mevlüt Gürlek, Cemal Turan ABSTRACT: A single male thresher, Alopias vulpinus (Bonnaterre, 1788), measuring 392 cm length and about weighing 180 kg was accidentally captured by purse seine in Iskenderun Bay (Cevlik

DNA from historical and trophy samples provides insights into white shark population origins and genetic diversity

DNA from historical and trophy samples provides insights into white shark population origins and genetic diversity

Published online on 29. April 2015 DNA from historical and trophy samples provides insights into white shark population origins and genetic diversity Chrysoula Gubili, Cory E. C. Robinson, Geremy Cliff, Sabine P. Wintner, Eleonora de Sabata, Sabina De Innocentiis, Simonepietro Canese, David W. Sims, Andrew P. Martin, Leslie R. Noble, Catherine S. Jones ABSTRACT: Characterizing

Elasmobranch capture by commercial small-scale fisheries in the Bijagós Archipelago, Guinea Bissau

Elasmobranch capture by commercial small-scale fisheries in the Bijagós Archipelago, Guinea Bissau

Published online on 28. April 2015 Elasmobranch capture by commercial small-scale fisheries in the Bijagós Archipelago, Guinea Bissau Helen Cross ABSTRACT: A standardised survey is used to investigate elasmobranch capture during commercial small-scale fishing operations in the Bijagós Archipelago (West Africa). Data refer to 211 landing episodes attributed to four main gears. Results show that

Nearshore movement ecology of a medium-bodied shark, the creek whaler

Nearshore movement ecology of a medium-bodied shark, the creek whaler

Published on 27. April 2015 Nearshore movement ecology of a medium-bodied shark, the creek whaler Carcharhinus fitzroyensis Samantha EM Munroe, Colin A Simpfendorfer, James Moloney, Michelle R Heupel ABSTRACT: Background The movement and habitat use patterns of medium-bodied nearshore sharks are poorly understood. However, these species face some of the highest levels of exposure to

Redescription of the eagle rays Myliobatis hamlyni and M. tobijei from the East Indo-West Pacific

Redescription of the eagle rays Myliobatis hamlyni and M. tobijei from the East Indo-West Pacific

Published on 22. April 2015 Redescription of the eagle rays Myliobatis hamlyni Ogilby, 1911 and M. tobijei Bleeker, 1854 (Myliobatiformes: Myliobatidae) from the East Indo-West Pacific William T. White, Junro Kawauchi, Shannon Corrigan, Elisabeth Rochel, Gavin J.P. Naylor ABSTRACT: The eagle rays Myliobatis hamlyni Ogilby, 1911 and Myliobatis tobijei Bleeker, 1854 are redescribed based on

Extensive retroviral diversity in shark

Extensive retroviral diversity in shark

Published on 28. April 2015 Extensive retroviral diversity in shark Guan-Zhu Han ABSTRACT: Background Retroviruses infect a wide range of vertebrates. However, little is known about the diversity of retroviruses in basal vertebrates. Endogenous retrovirus (ERV) provides a valuable resource to study the ecology and evolution of retrovirus. Findings I performed a genome-scale screening for

Morphological abnormalities in elasmobranchs

Morphological abnormalities in elasmobranchs

Published online on 23. April 2015 Morphological abnormalities in elasmobranchs A. B. M. Moore ABSTRACT: A total of 10 abnormal free-swimming (i.e. post-birth) elasmobranchs are reported from The (Persian–Arabian) Gulf, encompassing five species and including deformed heads, snouts, caudal fins and claspers. The complete absence of pelvic fins in a milk shark Rhizoprionodon acutus may

Risks and advantages of using surface laser photogrammetry on free-ranging marine organisms: a case study on white sharks

Risks and advantages of using surface laser photogrammetry on free-ranging marine organisms: a case study on white sharks

Published online on 23. April 2015 Risks and advantages of using surface laser photogrammetry on free-ranging marine organisms: a case study on white sharks Carcharodon carcharias G. Leurs, C. P. O’Connell, S. Andreotti, M. Rutzen, H. Vonk Noordegraaf ABSTRACT: This study employed a non-lethal measurement tool, which combined an existing photo-identification technique with a surface,

Mating scars reveal mate size in immature female blue shark Prionace glauca

Mating scars reveal mate size in immature female blue shark Prionace glauca

Published online on 23. April 2015 Mating scars reveal mate size in immature female blue shark Prionace glauca H. J. Calich, S. E. Campana ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to determine the size and maturity status of the male blue sharks Prionace glauca attempting to mate with small, immature females in the north-west

Occurrence and use of an estuarine habitat by giant manta ray Manta birostris

Occurrence and use of an estuarine habitat by giant manta ray Manta birostris

Published online on 20. April 2015 Occurrence and use of an estuarine habitat by giant manta ray Manta birostris A. M. Medeiros, O. J. Luiz, C. Domit ABSTRACT: Based on the knowledge of local artisanal fishermen and on direct observations, this study presents evidence that the giant manta ray Manta birostris uses the Paranaguá estuarine