Whale sharks are not only the largest shark – they’re the largest fish in the ocean. These gentle giants feed on some of the tiniest creatures in the ocean: plankton. These sharks may be huge, but never fear, they come in peace. The whale shark is one of only three filter-feeding sharks. Of course, whale sharks are not whales at all; they earned the name “whale” solely for their impressive size. A fun nickname for whale sharks is in Africa, where the sharks are called “papa shillingi.” This nickname in Kenya came from the myth that God tossed shillings upon the backs of these large fish.
Pacific bottlenose (T. gilli) are an entirely different species, usually the ones captured from Taiji. They are migratory, and tend to be not only very dark in color, but bulkier too. You will mainly see them in Asian, Middle Eastern, Polynesian and some Eastern Europe facilities (since those are Isana Union’s clients). SeaWorld and Sea Life Park still have a few when they did experimental captures in the Pacific.
According to Karen Pryor, animal behaviorist and former dolphin trainer at Sea Life Park, she described in Lads Before the Wind that T. Gilli were much more difficult to train than their Atlantic counterparts.
(a Monkey Mia pod member, via Arkive) Indo-Pacific Bottlenose (T. Aduncus) are also a unique species. They tend to live around Japan, both Koreas, Australia, Phillippeans, Indonesia, and the Eastern side of Africa. Indo-Pacifics have more rounded dorsals, have spotted underbellies, leaner builds and longer beaks (they look quite similar to Atlantic Spotted, minus uniform coat of spots).
This species has been mainly caught in these areas, including the Penghu Island, Taiwan dolphin drives. These drives (before they were effectively abolished) caught a fair number of dolphins. Those dolphins were sent to Ocean Park Hong Kong, and to the United Kingdom during the 1970′s and 1980′s. An untold number were also caught for Japanese parks and off South Africa for the local parks, Ushaka MarineWorld and Bayworld. Currently Ocean Park, Ushaka, and SeaWorld Gold Coast in Australia displays them. South Korea did have a few that were illegally captured for local park, but were later relinquished, rehabbed and successfully released.
(On that note, there is a unique population of Indo-Pacifics off Toshina Island, Japan, that are legally protected. Diver Nana Takanawa follows them pretty closely and has a Vlog of her dives with them.)
(Castaway – via Marine Mammal Conservancy) Believe it or not, there is an Offshore ecotype of Atlantic Bottlenose! Pinky/Patches of Monterey Bay is considered an offshore. As far as I am aware of, only two stranded individuals, Castaway (Dolphin’s Plus, 2006-2010) and Nai’aili (Dolphin Research Center, 1982-1987) were ever kept in captivity.
The Japanese sawshark is a sawshark of the family Pristiophoridae, found in the northwest Pacific Ocean around Japan, Korea, and northern China. It has a flat snout, studded with teeth, which resembles a serrated saw. Protruding from the middle of the saw-like snout are two long, sensitive, whisker-like barbels. The sawshark uses these barbels, along with electro-receptors located on the underside of its saw (Ampullae of Lorenzini) to help it find prey buried in the sand as it cruises along the bottom of the ocean. [x]
A chubby mer piece for @thumbcramps ‘s Fat Mermaids for Charity Zine. All profits will go to BodyRedefined, a non-profit that is dedicated to taking back beauty for women everywhere by promoting positive body image.
This was also made to help cheer Thumpcramps up as she being harass by haters on her twitter over this problematic issue. Check her her art out, her work is really Amazing!
wishwhale 