Publications

global versus local causes and health implications of high mercury concentrations in sharks from the east coast of south africa.	conservation concern regarding the overharvest of global shark populations for meat and fin consumption largely surrounds documented deleterious ecosystem effects, but may be further supported by improved knowledge of possibly high levels in their edible tissues (particularly meat) of the neurotoxin, methylmercury (ch3hg). for many regions, however, little data exist on shark tissue hg concentrations, and reasons for hg variation within and among species or across regions are poorly understood. ...	2016	26409147
the phylogenomic position of the grey nurse shark carcharias taurus rafinesque, 1810 (lamniformes, odontaspididae) inferred from the mitochondrial genome.	the complete mitochondrial genome of the grey nurse shark carcharias taurus is described from 25 963 828 sequences obtained using illumina ngs technology. total length of the mitogenome is 16 715 bp, consisting of 2 rrnas, 13 protein-coding regions, 22 trna and 2 non-coding regions thus updating the previously published mitogenome for this species. the phylogenomic reconstruction inferred from the mitogenome of 15 species of lamniform and carcharhiniform sharks supports the inclusion of c. tauru ...	2016	26462847
implantation and recovery of long-term archival transceivers in a migratory shark with high site fidelity.	we developed a long-term tagging method that can be used to understand species assemblages and social groupings associated with large marine fishes such as the sand tiger shark carcharias taurus. we deployed internally implanted archival vemco mobile transceivers (vmts; vemco ltd. nova scotia, canada) in 20 adult sand tigers, of which two tags were successfully recovered (10%). the recovered vmts recorded 29,646 and 44,210 detections of telemetered animals respectively. to our knowledge, this is ...	2016	26849043
first isolation of tenacibaculum maritimum in a captive sand tiger shark (carcharias taurus).	this report describes a case of the first isolation of tenacibaculum maritimum from a captive-bred adult female sand tiger shark (carcharias taurus) housed at the cattolica aquarium (italy). the animal showed, between the second dorsal fin and the precaudal pit, skin lesions characterized by the presence of abundant whitish necrotic tissue. through routine bacteriological examination, a bacterium was isolated from a skin lesion and subsequently identified as t. maritimum by phenotypic characters ...	2016	27010301
social network analysis reveals potential fission-fusion behavior in a shark.	complex social networks and behaviors are difficult to observe for free-living marine species, especially those that move great distances. using implanted acoustic transceivers to study the inter- and intraspecific interactions of sand tiger sharks carcharias taurus, we observed group behavior that has historically been associated with higher order mammals. we found evidence strongly suggestive of fission-fusion behavior, or changes in group size and composition of sand tigers, related to five b ...	2016	27686155
the complete mitochondrial genome of the sand tiger shark, carcharias taurus (chondrichthyes, odontaspididae).	the complete mitochondrial genome of the sand tiger shark consists of 16,773 bp and including 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal rna, 22 transfer rna genes, 1 replication origin region and 1 control region. the mitochondrial gene arrangement of the sand tiger shark is the same as the one observed in most vertebrates. base composition of the genome is a (31.8%), t (28.7%), c (26.3%) and g (13.2%).	2015	24460169
serum biochemical reference intervals for free-living sand tiger sharks (carcharias taurus) from east australian waters.	sharks are top-order predators in ocean food chains and the star attractions in aquaria worldwide. unfortunately, blood biochemistry reference intervals (ri) have been determined for few species.	2015	25865808
effect of sample preparation techniques for carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis of hydroxyapatite structures in the form of elasmobranch vertebral centra.	bulk stable isotope analysis (sia) provides an important tool for the study of animal ecology. elasmobranch vertebral centra can be serially sampled to obtain an isotopic history of an individual over ontogeny. the measured total δ(13)c value, however, may be misinterpreted due to the inclusion of the (13)c-rich inorganic portion. hydrochloric acid (hcl) is commonly used to remove the inorganic portion of hydroxyapatite structures before undertaking sia, but more recently ethylenediaminetetraace ...	2014	24497282
the behavioural and genetic mating system of the sand tiger shark, carcharias taurus, an intrauterine cannibal.	sand tiger sharks (carcharias taurus) have an unusual mode of reproduction, whereby the first embryos in each of the paired uteri to reach a certain size ('hatchlings') consume all of their smaller siblings during gestation ('embryonic cannibalism' or ec). if females commonly mate with multiple males ('behavioural polyandry') then litters could initially have multiple sires. it is possible, however, that ec could exclude of all but one of these sires from producing offspring thus influencing the ...	2013	23637391
mechanical properties of sand tiger shark (carcharias taurus) vertebrae in relation to spinal deformity.	approximately 35% of sand tiger sharks (carcharias taurus) in public aquaria exhibit spinal deformities ranging from compressed vertebrae and loss of intervertebral space to dislocated spines with vertebral degeneration and massive spondylosis caused by excessive mineralization both within vertebrae and outside the notochordal sheath. to identify the mechanical basis of these deformities, vertebral centra from affected (n=12) and non-affected (n=9) c. taurus were subjected to axial compression t ...	2013	23997197
conservation of the critically endangered eastern australian population of the grey nurse shark (carcharias taurus) through cross-jurisdictional management of a network of marine-protected areas.	between 2001 and 2009, 26 marine-protected areas (mpa) were established on the east australian seaboard, at least in part, to manage human interactions with a critically endangered population of grey nurse shark, carcharias taurus. this network is spread across six mpa systems and includes all 19 sites outlined in the national recovery plan for c. taurus, though five sites remain open to some forms of fishing. the reserve network has complex cross-jurisdictional management, as the sharks occur i ...	2013	24213854
correlations of capture, transport, and nutrition with spinal deformities in sandtiger sharks, carcharias taurus, in public aquaria.	a number of captive sandtiger sharks (carcharias taurus) in public aquaria have developed spinal deformities over the past decade, ranging in severity from mild curvature to spinal fracture and severe subluxation. to determine the frequency and etiologic basis of this disease, u.s. public aquaria participated in a two-stage epidemiologic study of resident sharks: 1) a history and husbandry survey and 2) hematology, clinical chemistry, and radiography conducted during health exams. eighteen aquar ...	2012	23272341
mechanics of biting in great white and sandtiger sharks.	although a strong correlation between jaw mechanics and prey selection has been demonstrated in bony fishes (osteichthyes), how jaw mechanics influence feeding performance in cartilaginous fishes (chondrichthyes) remains unknown. hence, tooth shape has been regarded as a primary predictor of feeding behavior in sharks. here we apply finite element analysis (fea) to examine form and function in the jaws of two threatened shark species, the great white (carcharodon carcharias) and the sandtiger (c ...	2011	21129747
liver lipids of female carcharias taurus (spotted raggedtooth) sharks: a comparison between seasons.	female raggedtooth sharks (carcharias taurus) migrate from the waters off the eastern cape past kwazulu-natal and up to southern mozambique and then back on an annual basis. they mate off the kwazulu-natal coast, gestate the pups off mozambique, then deliver same off the eastern cape. prior to mating, they hypertrophise their livers and store large amounts of lipid, then towards the end of gestation subsist on this stored lipid as well as using it to feed their pups in utero. raggedtooth sharks ...	2011	21184175
surgical removal of a gastric foreign body in a sand tiger shark, carcharias taurus rafinesque.		2011	22074022
a comparison of the heart and muscle total lipid and fatty acid profiles of nine large shark species from the east coast of south africa.	we have assessed the fatty acid profiles of the hearts and different muscle tissues from nine large shark species (carcharhinus limbatus (blacktip), carcharhinus obscurus (dusky), carcharhinus brevipinna (spinner), carcharhinus leucas (zambezi/bull), galeocerdo cuvier (tiger), sphyrna lewini (scalloped hammerhead), sphyrna zygaena (smooth hammerhead), carcharodon carcharias (great white) and carcharias taurus (raggedtooth/grey nurse/sand tiger)) found off the east coast of south africa. while th ...	2011	20694746
grey nurse shark (carcharias taurus) diving tourism: tourist compliance and shark behaviour at fish rock, australia.	humans can dive with critically endangered grey nurse sharks (carcharias taurus) along the east coast of australia. this study investigated both compliance of tourist divers to a code of conduct and legislation and the behaviour of grey nurse sharks in the presence of divers. a total of 25 data collection dives were conducted from december 2008 to january 2009. grey nurse shark and diver behaviour were documented using 2-min scan samples and continuous observation. the proportion of time spent o ...	2010	20872140
cross matching of blood in carcharhiniform, lamniform, and orectolobiform sharks.	the transfusion of whole blood in elasmobranchs could provide cardiovascular support following hemorrhage. since donor and recipient compatibility is not known, a technique was established to allow cross matching of red blood cells and serum in sharks. cross matching was carried out among 19 individuals from seven species: the nurse shark (ginglymostoma cirratum), sandbar shark (carcharhinus plumbeus), sandtiger shark (carcharias taurus), white-spotted bamboo shark (chiloscyllium plagiosum), bro ...	2010	20945647
delta15n and delta13c diet-tissue discrimination factors for large sharks under semi-controlled conditions.	stable isotopes (delta(15)n and delta(13)c) are being widely applied in ecological research but there has been a call for ecologists to determine species- and tissue-specific diet discrimination factors ((13)c and (15)n) for their study animals. for large sharks stable isotopes may provide an important tool to elucidate aspects of their ecological roles in marine systems, but laboratory based controlled feeding experiments are impractical. by utilizing commercial aquaria, we estimated (15)n and ...	2010	19800980
young's modulus and hardness of shark tooth biomaterials.	to date, the majority of studies on feeding mechanics in sharks have focused on the movement of cranial components and muscle function, with little attention to tooth properties or function. attributes related to mechanical properties, such as structural strength, may also be subjected to natural selection. additionally it is necessary to characterize these properties in order to construct biomechanical models of tooth function. the goal of this study was to determine hardness and elastic modulu ...	2010	20102762
nuclear and mitochondrial dna reveals isolation of imperilled grey nurse shark populations (carcharias taurus).	loss of sharks and other upper-trophic marine predators has sparked worldwide concern for the stability of ocean ecosystems. the grey nurse (ragged-tooth or sand tiger) shark (carcharias taurus) is vulnerable on a global scale, critically endangered in australia and presumed extinct in parts of its historical range. we used 193 muscle and fin samples collected from six extant populations to assess global mtdna and microsatellite diversity and the degree of global population genetic structure. co ...	2009	19804378
brain size and brain organization of the whale shark, rhincodon typus, using magnetic resonance imaging.	very little is known about the brain organization of the suction filter feeder, rhincodon typus, and how it compares to other orectolobiforms in light of its specialization as a plankton-feeder. brain size and overall brain organization was assessed in two specimens of r. typus in relation to both phylogeny and ecology, using magnetic resonance imaging (mri). in comparison to over 60 other chondrichthyan species, r. typus demonstrated a relatively small brain for its body size (expressed in term ...	2009	19729899
serum levels of reproductive steroid hormones in captive sand tiger sharks, carcharias taurus (rafinesque), and comments on their relation to sexual conflicts.	levels of reproductively-related steroids were determined in captive male sand tiger sharks, carcharias taurus, maintained at two institutions: seaworld adventure park orlando and the national aquarium in baltimore. sexual conflicts were absent at the former, but were documented at the latter. serum titers of 17beta-estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, and 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone were determined via radioimmunoassay in adult male sharks from 1988 to 2000. sampling overlap between the two in ...	2008	18958600
ultrasound examination and behavior scoring of captive broadnose sevengill sharks, notorynchus cepedianus (peron, 1807).	serial ultrasound examination of four mature female sevengill sharks (notorynchus cepedianus) was carried out over 18 months. monitoring the reproductive cycle and development of follicles and fetuses in sharks in a noninvasive manner using this technique has not been reported previously. sharks were caught out of the "oceanarium" tank by divers using a specially made catch-out bag, and brought to a holding area for examination. a behavior scoring system was used to monitor the impact of regular ...	2007	19360588
terranova galeocerdonis (thwaite, 1927) (nematoda: anisakidae) from carcharias taurus (chondrichthyes: odontaspididae) off argentina, with comments on some related species.	the purpose of this study was to study and redescribe terranova galeocerdonis (thwaite, 1927) from carcharias taurus off argentina. its fourth larval stage was described, measured and illustrated for the first time. the host and geographical range of this species is extended into the southwestern atlantic ocean. when the present material was compared with t. rochalimai (pereira, 1935) and t. ginglymostomae olsen, 1952, it was considered that both morphological and morphometrical differences betw ...	2006	16612662
isolation and genetic diversity of endangered grey nurse shark (carcharias taurus) populations.	anthropogenic impacts are believed to be the primary threats to the eastern australian population of grey nurse sharks (carcharias taurus), which is listed as critically endangered, and the most threatened population globally. analyses of 235 polymorphic amplified fragment length polymorphisms (aflp) loci and 700 base pairs of mitochondrial dna control region provide the first account of genetic variation and geographical partitioning (east and west coasts of australia, south africa) in c. tauru ...	2006	17148390
spinal deformity in a sandtiger shark, carcharias taurus rafinesque: a clinical-pathological study.	the present study investigated spinal deformity in a captive sandtiger shark and describes the clinical and histopathological features of the lesion. clinically, the shark presented a marked spinal curvature in the region between the pectoral girdle and cranial dorsal fin. radiographic studies revealed scoliosis and kyphosis of the vertebral column with a modification of the basic structure of five vertebrae. post-mortem examination confirmed the results of radiographic studies and histological ...	2006	16351698
dorsal fin in the white shark, carcharodon carcharias: a dynamic stabilizer for fast swimming.	transverse sections of the skin in the dorsal fin of the white shark, carcharodon carcharias, tiger shark, galeocerdo cuvier, and spotted raggedtooth shark, carcharias taurus, show large numbers of dermal fiber bundles, which extend from the body into the fin. the bundles are tightly grouped together in staggered formation (not arranged in a straight line or in rows). this arrangement of dermal fibers gives tensile strength without impeding fiber movement. tangential sections indicate that the f ...	2005	15536651
the marine leech stibarobdella loricata (harding, 1924) (hirudinea, piscicolidae), parasitic on the angel shark squatina spp. and sandtiger shark carcharias taurus rafinesque, 1810 (chondrichthyes: squatinidae, carchariidae) in southern brazilian waters.	the presence of the marine leech, stibarobdella loricata (harding, 1924) (hirudinea, piscicolidae), is reported on the southern coast of brazil, based on seven lots with 47 specimens, between 71 and 182 mm in total length, collected on the dorsal region of angel sharks, squatina argentina (marini, 1930); s. guggenheim marini, 1936; s. punctata marini, 1936 (chondrichthyes, squatinidae); and on the head of a sandtiger shark, carcharias taurus rafinesque, 1810 (chondrichthyes, carchariidae). this ...	2004	15029380
conflict and impacts of divers and anglers in a marine park.	the new south wales state government (australia) gazetted the jervis bay marine park (jbmp) in 1998. during the preparation of the draft zoning plan in 2000, societal data on two conflicting park user groups--recreational scuba divers and fishers (anglers)--was collected. while conflict resolution was a plan priority, other factors, such as cumulative environmental impacts of users and protection for the critically endangered grey nurse shark (carcharias taurus), further complicated planning. bo ...	2004	15285398
gingival neoplasms in a captive sand tiger shark, carcharias taurus (rafinesque), and a wild-caught blue shark, prionace glauca (l.).		2004	15009246
review of the rhopalothylacidae guiart, 1935 (cestoda: trypanorhyncha), with a description of the adult of pintneriella musculicola yamaguti, 1934 and a redescription of p. gymnorhynchoides (guiart, 1935) comb. n.	the family rhopalothylacidae (cestoda: trypanorhyncha) is reviewed. the type species, rhopalothylax gymnorhynchoides guiart, 1935, is redescribed from the type specimens and belongs within the genus pintneriella yamaguti, 1934, previously described only from the plerocercus. rhopalothylax therefore becomes a junior synonym of pintneriella. the adult of pintneriella musculicola yamaguti, 1934 is described for the first time, from the shark carcharias taurus rafinesque from australia. pintneriella ...	2003	12735726
association of gm4 ganglioside with the membrane surrounding lipid droplets in shark liver.	by tlc, gm4 was found to be the major ganglioside in the liver of six shark species examined: odontaspis taurus, negaprion brevirostris, sphyrna lewini, mustelus griseus, mustelus manazo, and prionace glauca. a detailed analysis of the glycosphingolipids (gsls) in the liver of o. taurus (sand tiger shark) showed that it contained approximately 110 nmol of lipid-bound sialic acid per gram of wet tissue, of which 80% was gm4. by extracting the liver of o. taurus with chloroform/methanol, followed ...	2002	12091485
observations on a lesser-known monogenean, udonella myliobati, from a copepod parasite, lepeophtheirus natalensis, parasitizing the spotted ragged-tooth shark, carcharias taurus, from south african waters.	the phylogeny of the genus udonella has been disputed for quite some time, but recent phylogenetic analysis of molecular data confirms that the genus is a monopisthocotylean monogenean. specimens of udonella myliobati parasitizing the copepod lepeophtheirus natalensis, an ectoparasite of the spotted ragged-tooth shark, (carcharias taurus), were collected and studied. a total of 771 monogenean specimens were recovered from 54 infected copepods examined, with a mean intensity of 14,3 worms per cop ...	2000	11028750
sperm storage in male elasmobranchs: a description and survey.	two basic types of spermatozoan aggregates, spermatophores and spermatozeugmata, found in 14 different species of sharks, one species of skate, and one species of chimaera (holocephalan), were investigated using light and scanning electron microscopy. spermatophores, aggregates (usually 1,000-6,000 microns in diameter and larger) of randomly clumped sperm embedded in and surrounded by an eosinophilic matrix, were found in alopias superciliosus, odontaspis taurus, carcharodon carcharias, isurus o ...	1994	8169955
urogenital sinus calculi in a sand tiger shark (odontaspis taurus).	two calculi were found in the urogenital sinus of a 70 kg female sand tiger shark (odontaspis taurus). the calculi were white in color, rough surfaced, and spherical in shape. crystallographic examination revealed that they were composed of magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate (80% struvite) and calcium phosphate (15% carbonate apatite). approximately 5% of the stone matrix consisted of blood and protein and a distinct bacterial nidus was not present microscopically.	1987	3625901
characterization of the non-saponifiable fraction of the liver lipids of the shark carcharias taurus by mass-spectrometry.	1. the non-saponifiable fractions (nsf) of the liver lipids of the common nigerian shark carcharias taurus were identified by mass-spectrometry. 2. the lipids were extracted from the liver microsomes. 3. hydrocarbons made up 21.29% of the nsf, sterols 26.45% and coenzymes 52.26%. 4. thin layer chromatography followed by mass-spectral analysis showed that squalene was the major hydrocarbon present. 5. the sterol fraction consisted of cholesterol, 1-octanol and 1-hexadecyl glycerol ether. 6. the c ...	1983	6839726
skeletal lesions and deformities in large sharks.	four blunt-snouted sandbar sharks (carcharhinus plumbeus) were noted among 555 examined over a 13-yr period. radiographs of one specimen revealed that the three rostral cartilage rods were abnormally short and failed to join at the anterior tip. the deformity appeared to be congenital. four cases of vertebral lesions were noted in three species of shark (carcharhinus plumbeus, negaprion brevirostris and odontaspis taurus). the vertebral columns had fused centra, ribs and neural arches, extra dep ...	1983	6842732
on the primary and tertiary structure of relaxin from the sand tiger shark (odontaspis taurus).		1981	7274472
isolation and characterization of relaxin from the sand tiger shark (odontaspis taurus).	a peptide with relaxin activity in guinea pigs but not in mice has been extracted from the ovaries of pregnant sand tiger sharks (odontaspis taurus). the structural similarity of this peptide to porcine relaxin includes molecular size approximately 6000 daltons), number of chains, and possibly, disulfide cross-links. the relaxin-type peptide isolated from shark ovaries contains the amino acid residues tyrosine, proline, and histidine, which are absent in the porcine hormone. the amino acid compo ...	1981	7250055