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Introduced
Species
For other chordates:
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This class contains the cartilaginous fishes, those that have a
skeleton of cartilage rather than bone. This includes all sharks, skates
and rays. They also have five to seven gill slits on each side of the
body. Sharks and rays reproduce by passing sperm from the male to the
female, the male using modified fins called claspers. Some species
produce large egg cases (usually those that live on the bottom) whilst
others produce live young (usually those that swim in the water column).
The Marine Discovery Centre has several sharks, skates and rays
regularly kept at the Centre. These include:
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- Squalis
acanthias
- White Spotted Dog Shark
- (Last
& Stevens, 1994)
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- Habitat:
Bays and estuaries (sand, mud)
- Distribution:
SA to Victoria and around Tasmania
- Maximum Size:
Length to 1000 mm
- Diet: Small
fish and crustaceans
- Comments:
- These sharks have dorsal-fin spines that are quite sharp. They
breed in inshore bays and estuaries and can have litters (live
young) of up to 20 young. They are very long-lived sharks, reaching
maturity between 10 25 years of age and some living to 70 years
of age. They are not eaten locally as the flesh is considered coarse.
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- Cephaloscyllium
laticeps
- Draughtboard shark with egg case
- (Edgar,
1997)
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Habitat:
Exposed reef, sand; 3 60 m depth
Distribution:
WA to NSW and around Tasmania
Maximum size:
Length to 1.5 m
Diet:
Small crustaceans, fish
Comments:
Harmless, slow moving shark with an
inflatable stomach (therefore called swell shark also). Common
on Tasmanian reefs. It is also common to find the egg cases of
these sharks (pictured left) washed up on the beach.
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- Mustelus
antarcticus
- Gummy Shark
- (Last
& Stevens, 1994)
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- Habitat:
Sand, reef; 1 350 m depth
- Distribution:
WA to NSW and around Tasmania
- Maximum Size:
Length to 1.75 m
- Diet:
Molluscs, Crustaceans
- Comments:
- Gummy
sharks have smaller spots than white spotted dog sharks. They have
flat plate-like teeth for crushing molluscs. This shark provides much
of the flake used in fish and chip shops. The species grows
slowly and is thought to have been severely overfished.
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- Narcine tasmaniensis - Tasmanian
Numbfish
- Picture: MDC
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- Habitat:
Sheltered mud, sand; 3 - 640 m depth
- Distribution:
SA to NSW and around Tasmania
- Maximum
Size: Length to 460 mm
- Diet:
Benthic crustaceans and molluscs
- Comments:
- The numbfish can give a mild electric shock if handled.
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- Raja
lemprieri
- Thornback Skate
- (Last
& Stevens, 1994)
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- Habitat: Sand,
mud; 0 170 m depth
- Distribution:
SA to NSW and around Tasmania
- Maximum Size:
Length to 520 mm
- Diet:
Small invertebrates
- Comments:
- Unlike
stingrays, skates lack venomous spines. They do however have numerous
sharp spines over the lower back and tail. This species is commonly
found in shallow waters in Tasmania. A characteristic of this species
are thorns around the eyes.
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- Urolophus cruciatus - Banded Stingaree
- (Edgar, 1997)
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- Habitat: Sand, reef; 0 - 160 m depth
- Distribution: SA to NSW and around Tasmania
- Maximum Size: Length to 500 mm
- Diet: Benthic molluscs and crustaceans
- Comments:
- Stingarees are generally smaller than stingrays and
have a rounded fin at the end of the tail. They have one or two
venomous spines at the end of the tail and should be considered
dangerous.
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