The Mare Nostrum, despite occupying a surface and a very low volume in relation to the salt waters of the entire globe, is home to a large number of shark species. Of the 50 species described to date in our basin, many are uncommon, difficult to observe, others are rare. For these rare species found there have been few sightings, if not unique. Let us now make a brief description of these species of cartilaginous fish and the most common known with respect to the families.
Among Hexanchidi include the S when they discriminate mas capopiatto ( Hexanchus griseus), also known as gray Notidano 6 and characterized by having gill slits instead of the usual 5 in almost all other sharks. It 'a very large shark, which normally lives at considerable depths approaching the coast overnight. It can reach 5 meters in length and 500 kg. It feeds on the bottom of small sharks, rays, mollusks, crustaceans and fish. In some places it is popularly known as the "cow fish" and is sold in slices of the market under the name "veal of the sea." For the family of
Carcharhinus include the sea for our Blue Shark (Prionace glauca ), deep-sea shark with a very streamlined body, a great swimmer and an active hunter.
To the family of small sharks belong Sciliorinidi long known and marketed in some places quite like Gattuccio ( Scyliorhinus canicula ) and Leopard ( Scyliorhinus stellaris ) more largest of its congener S.canicola . Both species live on the bottom and lay eggs that are laid to the substrate, protected by a housing characteristic.
The family belongs to the shark Triakidi considered perhaps the most common because they often present at the fish market, we talk about Palombo ( Mustelus Mustelus ) and its close relative the starry Palombo ( Mustelus asterias ).
Although not common I think it appropriate to mention the biggest shark in the Mediterranean, belonging to the family of Cetorinidi , the Basking shark ( Cetorhinus maximus ) along up to 15 meters and is the largest fish in the world after the whale shark, which was lacking in our area for which is the biggest fish in the Mediterranean. It feeds on plankton organisms that capture filtering the water with its gills anatomically altered and the wide mouth. For the family of
Centroforidi include the Leafscale gulper shark ( Centrophorus granulosus ) up to 1.5 meters long. For the family of
Lamnidi (which belongs to the Great White Shark, also present in the Mediterranean) include the Mako (Isurus oxyrhynchus ) and Porbeagle (Lamna nasus ) the meat of which are sometimes present in the fish stalls. Both these species are fierce predators and potentially dangerous to humans.
to remind the family of the Alopiidi thresher sharks (Alopias vulpinus ) with the excessively long tail which it uses as a whip to stun their prey, usually small fish, which feeds.
conclusion I want to emphasize that the few shark species potentially dangerous to humans should not be considered a threat since the attacks are very rare and not always fatal, often the meetings are also due to the lack of foresight of man in an environment that is not his. All of these species should be protected as important to the marine ecosystem given the role of top predators that play. The data on the decline in shark populations in the Mediterranean and around the world are truly staggering as these "killer" of the seas are actually very delicate and vulnerable and are exterminated by man that is not asked any scruples against them. The sharks in our ocean are often victims of accidental pelagic nets, placed in the sea to catch other fish species of interest such as tuna and swordfish, and fishing gear such as longlines with hooks, often several miles long.
Click the scientific name of each shark (put in brackets with text written in italic and Celestino) to see the corresponding photos.
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