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Bigeye Sand Tiger
The bigeye sand tiger (''Odontaspis noronhai'') is an extremely rare species of Lamniformes, mackerel shark in the family (biology), family Sand shark, Odontaspididae, with a possible worldwide distribution. A large, bulky species reaching at least in length, the bigeye sand tiger has a long bulbous snout, large orange eyes without nictitating membranes, and a capacious mouth with the narrow teeth prominently exposed. It can be distinguished from the similar smalltooth sand tiger (''O. ferox'') by its teeth, which have only one lateral cusplet on each side, and by its uniformly dark brown color. Inhabiting continental margins and oceanic waters at depths of , the bigeye sand tiger may make diel vertical migration, vertical and fish migration, horizontal migratory movements. It feeds on bony fishes and squid, and its sizable eyes and dark coloration suggest that it may spend most of its time in the mesopelagic zone. Reproduction is probably viviparous with oophagy, oophagous embry ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Günther Maul
Günther Edmund Maul (May 7, 1909 – September 28, 1997) was a German ichthyologist and taxidermist in Portugal. Maul came to Madeira in December 1930 to work as taxidermist at Museu Municipal do Funchal, which opened to the public in 1933. He was appointed director for the museum in 1940, a post that he held to his retirement in 1979. He, however, continued his research until shortly before his death. He started two journals (''Boletim do Museu Municipal do Funchal'' in 1945 and ''Bocagiana'' in 1959) and opened the museum's aquarium to the public in 1959. He also participated in several expeditions including with the French bathyscaphe ''Archimède'' in 1966 and organised the first multidisciplinary expedition to the Salvage Islands in 1963. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Madeira in 1995. Works He described several species of fish *'' Himantolophus albinares'' *'' Coryphaenoides thelestomus'' *'' Macruronus maderensis'' *''Rouleina maderensis'' *' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Commercial Fishing
Commercial fishing is the activity of catching fish and other seafood for commercial profit, mostly from wild fisheries. It provides a large quantity of food to many countries around the world, but those who practice it as an industry must often pursue fish far into the ocean under adverse conditions. Large-scale commercial fishing is also known as industrial fishing. The major fishing industries are not only owned by major corporations but by small families as well. In order to adapt to declining fish populations and increased demand, many commercial fishing operations have reduced the sustainability of their harvest by fishing further down the food chain. This raises concern for fishery managers and researchers, who highlight how further they say that for those reasons, the sustainability of the marine ecosystems could be in danger of collapsing. Commercial fishermen harvest a wide variety of animals. However, a very small number of species support the majority of the world ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Systematist
Biological systematics is the study of the diversification of living forms, both past and present, and the relationships among living things through time. Relationships are visualized as evolutionary trees (synonyms: cladograms, phylogenetic trees, phylogenies). Phylogenies have two components: branching order (showing group relationships) and branch length (showing amount of evolution). Phylogenetic trees of species and higher taxa are used to study the evolution of traits (e.g., anatomical or molecular characteristics) and the distribution of organisms (biogeography). Systematics, in other words, is used to understand the evolutionary history of life on Earth. The word systematics is derived from the Latin word '' systema,'' which means systematic arrangement of organisms. Carl Linnaeus used 'Systema Naturae' as the title of his book. Branches and applications In the study of biological systematics, researchers use the different branches to further understand the relationshi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sand Tiger Shark
The sand tiger shark (''Carcharias taurus''), gray nurse shark, spotted ragged-tooth shark or blue-nurse sand tiger, is a species of shark that inhabits subtropical and temperate waters worldwide. It inhabits the continental shelf, from sandy shorelines (hence the name sand tiger shark) and submerged reefs to a depth of around . They dwell in the waters of Japan, Australia, South Africa, and the east coasts of North and South America. The sand tiger shark also inhabited the Mediterranean, however it was last seen there in 2003 and is presumed extinct in the region. Despite its common names, it is not closely related to either the tiger shark (''Galeocerdo cuvier'') or the nurse shark (''Ginglymostoma cirratum''). Despite its fearsome appearance and strong swimming ability, it is a relatively placid and slow-moving shark with no confirmed human fatalities. This species has a sharp, pointy head, and a bulky body. The sand tiger's length can reach but is normally 2.2–2.5 m in leng ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Odontaspis
''Odontaspis'' (from el, ὀδούς 'tooth') and el, ἀσπίς 'shield') is a genus of sand shark with two extant species. Description Bigeye sand tigers can reach a length of about and smalltooth sand tigers of about 4.1 m. They are large-bodied sharks with long, conical snouts, broad-based dorsal and anal fins, and an asymmetrical caudal fin with a strong lower lobe. Their teeth are large, with prominent narrow cusps. They are distinguished from the similar genus '' Carcharias'' by the absence of crushing posterior teeth.Bourdon, J''Odontaspis'' Agassiz 1838 ''Elasmo.com''. Retrieved on December 24, 2008. These bottom dwelling, deepwater sharks can be found in temperate and tropical waters of all the oceans. Extant species * '' Odontaspis ferox'' ( A. Risso, 1810) (smalltooth sand tiger) * ''Odontaspis noronhai'' (Maul, 1955) (bigeye sand tiger) Extinct species Extinct species within this genus include: * ''Odontaspis aculeatus'' Capetta & Case, 1975 * ''O ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Carcharias
''Carcharias'' is a genus of sand tiger sharks belonging to the family Odontaspididae. Once bearing many prehistoric species, all have gone extinct with the exception of the critically endangered sand tiger shark. Description ''Carcharias'' are 2.5 m long on average. The maximum weight of the shark is 158.8 kg. Differentiating species of sharks is usually done by locating and measuring their fins. The second dorsal fin and the anal fin of ''Carcharias'' are very large. In fact, they are about equal in size. The pectoral fins are triangular and only slightly larger than the dorsal fins. The teeth are very long and narrow with sharp points. The teeth are smooth with no ridges. The tail is one third of the entire body size. Diet ''Carcharias'' species hunt bony fish, small sharks, rays, squids, crabs, and lobsters. Habitat Sand tiger sharks live in water depths ranging from 0 to 190 meters. They are found in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans. They are commonl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Adolfo De Noronha
Adolfo César de Noronha (Funchal, 9 September 1873 — Funchal, 6 April 1963) was a Portuguese naturalist. Early life Adolfo César de Noronha was born in Funchal, Madeira Island on September 9, 1873. His father, Augusto Nóbrega de Noronha (1849-1920), was a minor Portuguese landowner. His mother was Adelaide Augusta da Silva (1856-1938). Education Noronha completed his secondary education at the Liceu Nacional do Funchal. He continued his studies outside Madeira, where he attended the Polytechnic School of Lisbon and the Polytechnic Institute of Porto. Career Noronha returned to Funchal after college. On December 11, 1914, he was appointed librarian at the Municipal Library of Funchal. He became the Director in 1928, a position he held until his retirement in 1943. In addition to his duties as librarian and Director of the Municipal Library of Funchal, he dedicated himself to the natural history of the Madeira archipelago. He performed meteorological observations and col ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ichthyologist
Ichthyology is the branch of zoology devoted to the study of fish, including bony fish ( Osteichthyes), cartilaginous fish (Chondrichthyes), and jawless fish (Agnatha). According to FishBase, 33,400 species of fish had been described as of October 2016, with approximately 250 new species described each year. Etymology The word is derived from the Greek words ἰχθύς, ''ikhthus'', meaning "fish"; and λογία, ''logia'', meaning "to study". History The study of fish dates from the Upper Paleolithic Revolution (with the advent of "high culture"). The science of ichthyology was developed in several interconnecting epochs, each with various significant advancements. The study of fish receives its origins from humans' desire to feed, clothe, and equip themselves with useful implements. According to Michael Barton, a prominent ichthyologist and professor at Centre College, "the earliest ichthyologists were ''hunters and gatherers'' who had learned how to obtain the most usef ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Scientific Description
A species description is a formal description of a newly discovered species, usually in the form of a scientific paper. Its purpose is to give a clear description of a new species of organism and explain how it differs from species that have been described previously or are related. In order for species to be validly described, they need to follow guidelines established over time. Zoological naming requires adherence to the ICZN code, plants, the ICN, viruses ICTV, and so on. The species description often contains photographs or other illustrations of type material along with a note on where they are deposited. The publication in which the species is described gives the new species a formal scientific name. Some 1.9 million species have been identified and described, out of some 8.7 million that may actually exist. Millions more have become extinct throughout the existence of life on Earth. Naming process A name of a new species becomes valid (available in zoolo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Taxidermy
Taxidermy is the art of preserving an animal's body via mounting (over an armature) or stuffing, for the purpose of display or study. Animals are often, but not always, portrayed in a lifelike state. The word ''taxidermy'' describes the process of preserving the animal, but the word is also used to describe the end product, which are called taxidermy mounts or referred to simply as "taxidermy". The word ''taxidermy'' is derived from the Greek words ''taxis'' and ''derma''. ''Taxis'' means "arrangement", and ''derma'' means "skin" (the dermis). The word ''taxidermy'' translates to "arrangement of skin". Taxidermy is practiced primarily on vertebrates (mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and less commonly on amphibians) but can also be done to larger insects and arachnids under some circumstances. Taxidermy takes on a number of forms and purposes including hunting trophies and natural history museum displays. Museums use taxidermy as a method to record species, including those ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Black Scabbardfish
The black scabbardfish (''Aphanopus carbo'') is a bathypelagic cutlassfish of the family Trichiuridae found in the Atlantic Ocean between latitudes 69°N and 27°N at depths between . Its length is up to , but it reaches maturity around . Description The black scabbardfish has an extremely elongated body; its body height is about one-eighth of the standard length, which is up to . The snout is large with strong, fang-like teeth. The dorsal fin has 34 to 41 spines and 52 to 56 soft rays. The anal fin has two spines and 43 to 48 soft rays. The pelvic fin is represented by a single spine in juveniles, but is entirely absent in adults. The color is a coppery black with an iridescent tint. The inside of the mouth and gill cavities are black. Juveniles are believed to be mesopelagic, living at depths from . Biology The black scabbardfish is bathypelagic by day, but moves upwards in the water column at night to feed at middle depths on crustaceans, cephalopods, and other fishes, m ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
