The tope shark is a member of the family of the hound sharks (Triakidae) and the order of the Carcharhiniformes. This shark, that is also called school shark or soupfin shark, can be found in colder and temperature waters around the globe, from the shallow waters along the beach until the open water. Tope sharks live in small … Read more
The starry smooth-hound is a member of the family of the hound sharks (Triakidae) and the ground sharks (Carcharhiniformes). This streamlined shark can be found close to shores, but also further out in the sea, from the tidal zone to at least a depth of 100 meters. The smooth hound prefers swimming just off the seafloor, where … Read more
The spiny dogfish is a member of the dogfishes (Squalidae) and the bramble, sleeper, and dogfish sharks (Squaliformes). The spiny dogfish lives in both sea and brackish waters. This shark prefers temperate climates en is widely distributed in the Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean. The spiny dogfish is also often observed in the Mediterranean and North Sea. … Read more
The small-spotted catshark is a member of the family of the catsharks (Scyliorhinidae) and the order of the ground sharks (Carcharhiniformes). This catshark species lives in colder and temperate waters, where it looks for food on sandbanks, up to depths of 85 m. It is primarily nocturnal, preying on fish, crustaceans and mollusks. De small-spotted … Read more
The porbeagle is a member of the family of mackerel sharks (Lamnidae) and the order of the Lamniformes. This shark frequents the upper layers of cooler waters and is rarely caught deeper than 150 meters. It is a fast swimmer which can sometimes be observed just under the water surface, where it hunts for fish species like … Read more
The nursehound is a member of the family of the catsharks (Scyliorhinidae) and the order of the ground sharks (Carcharhiniformes). This shark is also called ‘large catshark’, and is primarily found in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean. The nursehound has larger spots then the spotted catshark, and nasal flaps do not reach the mouth. This nocturnal hunter … Read more
The common smooth-hound is a member of the family of the hound sharks (Triakidae) and the ground sharks (Carcharhiniformes). This shark can be found on the continental shelf en on sea floors, from the tidal zone until 350 meters depth. Occasionally observed in open water, but prefers to feed just above the sea floor, hunting for crustaceans, … Read more
If you saw a 15-foot-long shark swimming toward you with its mouth wide open, your life would probably flash before your eyes. This is precisely what happened to UK snorkeller Lew Smart in 2014. Seeing a fin in the water, Smart jumped in to get a closer look and almost ended up in the mouth … Read more
The angel shark belongs to the family of the angel sharks (Squatinidae) and the order of the angel sharks (Squatiniformes). This shark is named for its graceful, ‘winglike’ pectoral fins. It is a typical bottom dweller, most frequently observed on sandy bottoms, where it can cover itself in the sand, leaving only its eyes visible. In … Read more
Sharks primarily live in saltwater, but some species can be found in brackish and freshwater. Sharks and rays (Elasmobranchii) are a subclass of the cartilaginous fishes ( (Chondrichthyes). The species in this subclass have jaws, paired fins and nostrils, a heart with its chambers in series, and skeletons made of cartilage rather than bone. The North Sea is … Read more