Table of Contents
Foreword Gavin Hanke ix
Preface xi
Biology 1
What are chondrichthyans? 1
Taxonomy 1
Morphology 3
Reproductive biology 4
Role in the ecosystem 6
Conservation and Management in British Columbia 9
Conservation 9
Management 12
Fisheries 15
Global catch statistics 15
BC fisheries 16
Difficulty in assessing stock status 19
Research in British Columbia 21
How do we study elasmobranchs? 21
Age determination 21
Species distribution 25
Feeding studies 28
Citizen science 29
From Feared and Loathed to Loved 31
Changing attitudes…from destruction to conservation 31
Ecotourism 33
Challenges for the Future 35
Key to the Species 37
Species Descriptions 45
Sharks 47
Order Hexanchiformes (Cow sharks and frill sharks) 49
Bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus) 51
Broadnose sevengill shark (Notorynchus cepedianus) 55
Order Squaliformes (Dogfish sharks) 59
Pacific spiny dogfish (Squalus suckleyi) 61
Pacific sleeper shark (Somniosus pacificus) 67
Lanternsharks (Etmopteridae) 71
Order Squatiniformes (Angel sharks) 73
Pacific angel shark (Squatina californica) 75
Order Lamniformes (Mackerel sharks) 79
Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) 81
Shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) 85
Salmon shark (Lamna ditropis) 87
Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) 91
Common thresher shark (Aiopios vulpinus) 97
Order Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks) 99
Brown catshark (Apristurus brunneus) 101
Tope (soupfin) shark (Galeorhinus galeus) 103
Blue shark (Prionace glauca) 107
Smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena) 111
Skates and Rays 115
Order Rajiformes (Skates and rays) 117
Deepsea skate (Bathyraja abyssicola) 123
Aleutian skate (Bathyraja aleutica) 125
Sandpaper skate (Bathyraja kincaidii) 127
Fine-spined skate (Bathyraja microtrachys) 131
Bering skate (Bathyraja interrupta) 133
Roughfail skate (Bathyraja trachura) 135
Alaska skate (Bathyraja parmifera) 137
Commander skate (Bathyraja lindbergi) 141
Whitebrow skate (Bathyraja minispinosa) 143
Pacific white skate (Bathyraja spinosissima) 145
Broad skate (Ambiyraja badia) 147
Big skate (Beringraja binoculata) 149
Longnose skate (Raja rhina) 153
Starry skate (Raja stellulata) 157
California skate (Raja inornata) 161
Pacific torpedo (electric) ray (Tefronarce californica) 163
Pelagic stingray (Pteroplatytrygon violacea) 167
Chimeras 171
Order Chimaenformes (Chimeras) 173
White-spotted raffish (Hydrolagus colliei) 175
Glossary 179
Bibliography 191
Credits 205
Index 207
