Occurrence of the basking shark Cetorhinus maximus (Gunnerus, 1765) (Lamniformes: Cetorhinidae) in the central-eastern Mediterranean Sea
The presence of the basking shark Cetorhinus maximus (Lamniformes: Cetorhinidae) in the central-eastern Mediterranean Sea has been documented by means of 15 sightings and two accidental catches which occurred from February 2011 to January 2014 in the northwestern Ionian and southern Adriatic Sea. Sp...
Published in: | Italian Journal of Zoology |
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Main Authors: | , , , , |
Other Authors: | , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
2014
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/11586/39285 https://doi.org/10.1080/11250003.2014.910275 |
Summary: | The presence of the basking shark Cetorhinus maximus (Lamniformes: Cetorhinidae) in the central-eastern Mediterranean Sea has been documented by means of 15 sightings and two accidental catches which occurred from February 2011 to January 2014 in the northwestern Ionian and southern Adriatic Sea. Specimens were observed exhibiting typical feeding behaviour, swimming slowly on the surface, during each sighting. In the case of the accidental catches, the basking shark specimens were released still alive by local fishermen. The observed specimens measured between 4 and 9 m in total length (TL). The sightings could be due to an increase in effort in the monitoring of the species occurring in the Mediterranean Sea as a consequence of a rise interest in the conservation of threatened species. |
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