Sharks primarily live in salt water, but some species can be found in brackish and fresh water.
X Ray of a Hammerhead Shark, showing the cartilage skeleton
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.
A blue shark (picture Peter Verhoog, Dutch Shark Society)
The North Sea is the habitat of several shark species, of which the descriptions can be found following the links mentioned below.
Shark species:
- Angel shark (Squatina squatina)
- Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus)
- Blue shark (Prionace glauca)
- Common smooth-hound (Mustelus mustelus)
- Nursehound (Scyliorhinus stellaris)
- Porbeagle (Lamna nasus)
- Small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula)
- Spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthus)
- Starry smooth-hound (Mustelus asterias)
- Tope shark (Galeorhinus galeus)
- Tresher shark (Alopias vulpinus)
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