Sharks & Underwater Monsters E-Book

Paula Hammond

• Herausgeber: Amber Books Ltd
• Kategorie: Für Kinder und Jugendliche
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 100

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Beschreibung

The seas, oceans and rivers of the world are one of the last great wild frontiers. Here, gigantic herbivores and voracious predators make their homes. There may be no real Loch Ness monsters, but sea "monsters" of all sizes and shapes can still be found lurking in the ocean’s darkest depths.
From the deadly great white shark to the legendary giant squid, from the barracuda to the manta ray to the alligator gar and piranha, Sharks and Underwater Monsters takes the reader on a fascinating journey into a strange and little-known world. Each of the featured creatures is illustrated with a large, full-color, annotated photograph with supporting color artworks, and accompanied by easy-to-follow text, locator maps, and information boxes designed to enhance the learning experience.
With examples carefully drawn from habitats as diverse as the icy waters of the Arctic to the sun-drenched Indian Ocean, this engaging and accessible volume reveals the secrets of some of nature’s strangest and most colorful animals.

Leseprobe

SHARKS

& UNDERWATER MONSTERS

PAULA HAMMOND

This digital edition first published in 2014

Published byAmber Books LtdNorth RoadLondon N7 9DPUnited Kingdom

Website: www.amberbooks.co.uk

Instagram: www.instagram.com/amberbooksltd/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/amberbooks

Twitter: @amberbooks

Copyright © 2014 Amber Books Ltd

ISBN: 978 1 908696 80 9

PICTURE CREDITS

IMP AB; International Book Management; Amber Books Ltd; Rick Fawcett

All rights reserved. With the exception of quoting brief passages for the purpose ofreview no part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written permis-sionfrom the publisher. The information in this book is true and complete to the

best of our knowledge. All recommendations are made without any guarantee on

the part of the author or publisher, who also disclaim any liability incurred in con-

nection with the use of this data or specific details.

www.amberbooks.co.uk

Contents

Introduction

6

Sharks

Gray Reef SharkSand Tiger SharkGreat White SharkWobbegongHorn SharkMako SharkMegamouth SharkWhale SharkHammerhead SharkAngel Shark

810121416182022242628

Other Saltwater Fish

Spotted Eagle RayAtlantic Wolf FishFrogfishDeep-Sea HatchetfishViperfishPorcupine FishDeep-Sea Gulper EelChimaeraHagfishManta RaySea LampreyBarracuda

30323436384042444648505254

ToadfishStingray

5658

Freshwater Fish

Alligator GarSturgeonPeters’ Elephantnose FishTiger FishSawfishPiranha

60626466687072

Jellyfish, Octopus & Squid

Giant SquidSea NettleNorth Pacific Giant OctopusNautilus

Crustaceans & Mollusks

Cone ShellHorseshoe CrabSlipper LobsterCuttlefishHarlequin Shrimp

848688909294

Index

96

7476788082

T

Introduction

he oceans are a harsh and unforgiving environment, where often

only the fastest, fittest, cleverest, and most cunning creatures

make it through the day. Those that live long enough to mate

and reproduce are the real winners in a shark-eat-shark world!

From the giant squid to the minuscule harlequin shrimp, each of the

amazing animals you’ll find in this book has its own way of exploiting

its environment so that it comes out on top. Those with big

teeth, huge jaws, and poisonous stingers have found one

practical solution to the everyday problem of survival—be

bigger and tougher than your rivals!

Other creatures have evolved more subtle survival

techniques. Some are able to change their body shape

and skin color to stay hidden out of harm’s way.

Some have toxic ink, paralyzing poison, or

MAKO SHARK

DEEP-SEA HATCHETFISH

7

INTRODUCTION

jet-propulsion so they can make a quick getaway. And some have

tough armor, spikes, and claws so that, if trouble does strike, they can

meet it head on!

Many of these remarkable marine animals do indeed appear monstrous

to human eyes. Take the deep-sea gulper eel (genus Saccopharynx), which

is really little more than a mobile, extendable stomach, with a gaping

maw at one end to sift the waters for food. Or the ugly hagfish

(family Myxinidae), which suffocates its prey in a blanket of slime

before eating it alive, from the inside out! Or the dead-eyed, great

white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), which is one of the world’s

premier predators, and which—almost four decades after the

movie Jaws was made—still fills  us with dread. However, while it’s

easy to use emotive words like “monstrous,” each of these animals

is also a thing of beauty. In this book are creatures that have

evolved over many millennia to be the best that they can

be. Even if they're the best at being the baddest!

STINGRAY

CUTTLEFISH

Sharks

Before dinosaurs roamed the Earth, sharks were one of the ocean’stop predators—one look at their teeth, and it’s easy to understandwhy. The shape of a shark’s teeth depends on the shark’s diet: flatteeth crush bones and shells, while jagged edges saw throughflesh. A shark’s streamlined body also makes it a good hunter; theshortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) reaches speeds of up to 45 mph(72 km/h). Yet not every shark is a flesh-eater or a speed fiend.Some are vegetarians, and others rely on camouflage and cunning.

There are many different species of shark thatrange in size from only a few inches to over 39ft. (12 m). The Gray Reef Shark seen heregrows to 4 ft. 10 in. (1.5 m).

Gray Reef Shark

SNOUT

The genus name Carcharhinusis Greek for karcharos, meaning“sharpen” and rhinos, meaning“nose.”

TEETH

Dagger-like teeth in theshark’s jaw have jagged(serrated) edges for grippingand cutting flesh.

COLORATION

As its name suggests, the upperbody is gray, with a distinctivewhite underbelly.

BODY

The usual shape of a reefshark’s body is long and stockywith a broad snout.

TAIL

Around the edge of the shark’stail (caudal fin) is a broad,black band.

T

hey may be small, but these tropical terrors are nopushovers. Using aggressive “threat displays,” gray reef sharksdominate the waters around coral reefs and warm, coastal

bays. During the day, they’re surprisingly sociable and gathertogether in groups, lazily circling their home range. As nightapproaches, though, lone hunters peel off from the group and moveinto shallower waters to feed. With bodies built for agility as well asspeed, pursuing prey through the coral reefs is child’s play for thesesprightly sharks. Fish, squid, crab, and lobster are all on the menu,but divers beware! Gray reef sharks never attack without warning,but when they do, look out!

SIZE

Where in the world?

Gray reef sharks make their home in thePacific and Indian oceans. They preferwarm, tropical waters, where they areoften found cruising near coral reefs or insheltered lagoons.

SHARKS

11

1.

THIS GRAY REEF SHARK

is being tagged by an

over-curious diver. He’d better watch out. Reefsharks are quite sociable toother sharks, butthey don’t likebeing crowded bystrangers.

2.

HUNCHING ITS BACK

and raising its snout, the

shark swims forward, propelling its body throughxsthe water with a strange side-to-side motion. Thisodd behavior is a threat display and it means justone thing. Stay away!

3.

THE DIVER IGNORES

the

warning signs. Big mistake!With its mouth open wide,the reef shark rushes in,gouging the diver's arm withits upper teeth. It then backsoff, giving the diver the chanceto make a rapid getaway.

Did you know?

•

Male grays grow to about 4 ft. 10 in. (1.5 m). That's half the size of the hammerhead shark.However, they're quite able to chase their big cousins away.

•

Female grays are viviparous:they give birth to live young, every other year. Usually one tosix pups are born, but it can take seven years for these perfect little predators to develop fully.

•

These incredible sharks have incredible noses! Their sense of smell is so good that they candetect one drop of tuna extract in every 10 billion drops of sea water.

•

Gray reef sharks can go into feeding frenzies; when this happens, no one is safe! Other graysmay even get eaten in the frantic rush to feed.

Sand Tiger Shark

LENGTH

These bulky sharks grow toa maximum size of about10 ft. 5 in. (3.2 m).

COLORATION

Younger sharks can often beidentified by reddish-brownspots scattered along theirflanks, or sides.

TAIL

The heterocercal tail fin isasymmetrical, with a muchlonger lobe above than below.

WEIGHT

A fully grown adult sand tigercan weigh as much as 640 lb.(290.3 kg).

SNOUT

A long, flattened snout holdsa set of extendable jaws, whichare used to engulf prey.

E

ven with their jaws closed, rows of ragged teeth project atangles from this big shark’s mighty mouth. However, itwould be wrong to judge these fearsome-looking fish on

appearances alone. They may be powerful predators, but they’resurprisingly placid. They prey on a wide range of bony fish,sometimes working in small groups to surround a school beforestarting to feed. Where humans are concerned, they will attack onlywhen trapped or provoked. Sadly, though, their ferocious appearancehas done them no favors. In many parts of the world, hunters havedecimated sand tiger populations, and it’s only recently that thesesharks have started to receive the protection they need.

SIZE

Where in the world?

Sand tiger sharks get their name fromtheir habit of hugging the shoreline inssearch of food. They’re found mainly inwarm or temperate waters, except theEastern Pacific.

SAND TIGERS START LIFE

in a protective “sac,” which contains nutrients to feed them. Once this

is exhausted, instinct takes over. The biggest (and hungriest) embryo in each uterus survives byeating its siblings! These cannibalistic babies are only about 4 in. (10 cm) long, but they areamazingly aggressive. One researcher, dissecting a newly caught female, was even bitten by theunborn pup inside its mother’s body!

SHARKS

13

Did you know?

•

Sand tigers are the only species of shark that swim to the surface and gulp air. This is thenstored in their stomachs, allowing them to float motionless in the water, when hunting.

•

Sand tiger sharks are known by a wide range of popular names, including the gray nurseshark (in Australia) and the spotted ragged tooth shark (in South Africa).

•

They may be slow swimmers, but these sharks have a clever technique for catching prey.They sometimes use their tails like whips, to herd fish into smaller areas.

•

With pink skin, oversized heads, and rows of tiny needle-sharp teeth, embryo sand tigers looklike something out of a science-fiction movie!

Great White Shark

BODY

A sleek, streamlined shape helpsthe great white to reach speedsof up to 40 mph (64.4 km/h).

TEETH

Rows of teeth behind themain set are ready to replaceany that wear out.

DORSAL FIN

This characteristic fin stops theshark rolling, and helps it tomake tight, fast turns.

TEMPERATURE

Closely packed veins andarteries help to maintain abody temperature warmerthan the surrounding water.

AMPULLAE OFLORENZINI

Special sensing organs underthe skin enable sharks todetect the electromagneticfields emitted by livinganimals.

I

t’s been almost four decades since the movie Jaws made us awarethat, lurking in the ocean depths, was one of the world’s premierpredators. An average great white shark grows up to 13 ft.(4 m)

long, although the largest specimens may be twice that size. Theirrounded snout, torpedo-shaped body, and crescent tail make themsuperb swimmers. And rows of jagged-edged teeth enable them toshear chunks of flesh from their victims with ease. But, despite theirimpressive size and strength, these magnificent beasts are not cold,calculating killers. Unlike we humans, they kill only for food. Theyjust happen to be very good at it!

SIZE

Where in the world?

Recent satellite tracking has shown thatgreat whites migrate incredibly longdistances, sometimes crossing entire oceansin search of prey. Although widespread,they are increasingly rare across their range.

SHARKS

15

1.

GREAT WHITE SOFTEN

approach their prey, especiallyseals, from below. As theygather speed, they raise theirsnouts, thrusting their upperjaw forward. Ramming intotheir prey, they take a hugebite from their victim’s body.

2.

THESE GREAT SHARKS

have no eyelids and

so, to protect their eyes from damage, theyroll them back into the socket as they bitedown. The effect is chilling to watch.

3.

SHARKS CAN’T CHEW.

So, on impact, they lower

their snout to bring both sets of jaws together. Withthe flesh firmly clamped between their teeth, theyshake their head, using their body weight to pull offhunks of flesh. One bite is usually enough to leavetheir victim stunned and weak from blood loss.