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...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Italian Journal of Zoology
Main Authors: CARLUCCI, ROBERTO, D. BATTISTA, CAPEZZUTO, FRANCESCA, F. SERENA, SION, LETIZIA
Other Authors: Carlucci, Roberto, D., Battista, Capezzuto, Francesca, F., Serena, Sion, Letizia
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2014
Subjects:
Basking shark
Cetorhinus maximu
Ionian Sea
Adriatic Sea
Mediterranean Sea
Cetorhinus maximus
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11586/39285
https://doi.org/10.1080/11250003.2014.910275
Description
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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