Are there sharks in the Mediterranean ocean?
471078
There are sharks in all seas and oceans aaround the world. \n\nThere are many species of sharks found in the Mediterranean, especially in the western and central Med - including Hammerheads and Great Whites. Unfortunately the numbers of these sharks, of all sharks in the med, are in great decline and in many areas the numbers are close to non-existent. The culprit for this is commercial fishing (for blackfinn tuna and swordfish - both as a result of being caught in netsAND having their natural food sources depleted, in some cases to extinction - bluefin tuna became extinct in the Med in the 1940's)and, ironically enough, tourism. Especilly around Croatia in the late 90's there were several 'Jaws Tours'operating. The 'chumming' undertaken to attract sharks obviously attracted sharks into tourist areas which resulted in the culling of many, many sharks so as not to endanger tourism!\n\nSo, yes, there are sharks in the Med but I wouldn't be put of swimming in the Med as shark attacks here are almost non existent. Between 1508 and 2004 therewere a total of 38 shark attacks in European/Mediterranean waters. 18 of which were fatal with the last reported fatal shark attack being in 1984.  \n\nBut please get your friend to put the possibility of shark attack into persective. WORLDWIDE shark attacks between 1508 and 2004 totalled 1,986 of which 486 were fatal - in almost 500 YEARS! More people have been killed by deers running into their cars than by sharks!
390762
Mediterranean Sea. 4,180. 6,690 ...
813666
There is 1 baby female living at Sea World San Diego, but I don't know if she's visible to the public. This little 7 footer currently has the record for surviving in captivity - 54 days as of 11/7/2006.\n\nGreat Whites don't survive after they're captured, and scientists are trying to figure out why. The previous record was 16 days back in August 1981.\n\nFor some reason, after about 10 days sharks stop eating, start swimming erratically, bumping off of walls, and eventually sink to the bottom of the holding tank, where they drown. If a shark doesn't keep water over its gills, it doesn't get any oxygen and dies.\n\nLots of things have proven to be involved - great whites can detect as little as 0.01 volts of electricity in the water. This transient voltage interferes with their guidance or feeding instincts and they batter themselves against the cage trying to get to the source of the signal. \n\nThe facility in San Diego has no electronics of any kind directly mounted on or near the tank. The tank is also significantly bigger than previous efforts: 1,000,000+ gallons. The researchers also took several days to acclimate the young shark in a fenced off area of the ocean, gradually reducing the size until it was the same size as its million gallon intended home.\n\nDespite years of research, very little is actually known about Great Whites. How deep they can go? What are their reproductive habits? How often do they give birth? Why are their movement patterns over a lifetime? All of these questions are still mysteries.\n\nGive it a few years. Once we get answers to some of the basic questions, we might be able to keep them in captivity. Hopefully we'll be able to not only learn from them, but protect them so our children and grandchildren can enjoy them, too.\n\nHope that answers your question,\nOdd
1087775
It depends on what you mean by "ocean". If you mean Salt water then yes. Flounder, Red, Trout, Shark, Ladyfish, Snapper. If you are referring to Deep water, yes but only once, a Kingfish.
116994
Well, the second coelacanth species, Latimeria menadoensis, was discovered in 1997.\nIt is large, and it's also significant because it belongs to a very old group (one of the "living fossils").\n\nThe megamouth shark (Megachasma pelagios) is another really large fish that was recently discovered (1976). Only about 25 specimens are known.
490342
No.  Sharks (and Dolphins which are actually faster than most sharks) are perfectly adapted for travel in water making them the fastest and deadliest (for fish, anyway) creatures in the sea.\n\nHumans, even with wet suits and flippers, will never approach the speed (or agility) of practically any fish or sea mammal except maybe a sea horse, unless they are strapped to some self propelled machine.  \n\nShark and Dolphin bodies are streamlined to slice through water and practically all the muscles in their huge bodies are devoted just for swimming (except maybe their jaws).  We just aren't streamlined enough and our muscles aren't designed to be powerful enough to push our awkward bodies through water.
44664
Yes, I live in a suburban area close to the coast in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Some years ago, excavations were made in order to install sewers (believe it or not, we were not connected to the public sewer system then!) and the workers dug up large fragments of fossil whales. I only have a fragment that could be part of a humerus, but more complete whale skeletons often appear when people around here construct large swimming pools. \nThese bones are not of much paleontological interest, though. They're much too "new" and do not correspond to any uncommon or interesting species.
927972
For starters, the person who previously answered is quite wrong, notably in his statements #2, # 3 and #4. Jewelry has never been reported as a contributing factor in any attack, so you can pretty well dismiss # 1 as well.\n He's even incorrect about shark numbers in the Bahamas. There are actually many species, but most are harmless or have no interest in making a diver a snack. If you do encounter a shark on your dive, just be calm, keep your eye on it and move away slowly or keep your distance. You won't be on the menu unless you provoke it and even then, it's likely to be a simple charge and not an attack.\n There are a few species you may come across, notably the Nurse shark, that although large and fearsome looking, are actually fairly docile and allow a close encounter. I've swum with a number of 10 footers on night dives and a few I've found sleeping under ledges. I still have all my bits and pieces. Hell, I've even given one a rub.\n You'll be diving there with a DM. He may even take you to where there are sharks hanging about. Listen to his briefing pre dive and he'll explain what he expects of you regarding shark encounters. He knows these fish and may even know each individual shark and their specific behavior on past dives.\n Relax, have fun and take some pics.
393749
I haven't heard of any shark species being endangered.  I know "Jaws" author Peter Benchley was an advocate of their conservation (which was reported at the time of his recent death), but I was and am still unaware that there was a need for conservation.  The only shark species I know to be extinct is the Megalodon (the much larger ancestor of the Great White).
717663
The Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias), also known as White Pointer, White Shark, White Death, or Amaletz, is an exceptionally large lamniform shark found in coastal surface waters in all major oceans. Reaching lengths of about 6 meters (20 feet) and weighing almost 2,000 kilograms (4,000 pounds), the Great White is the world's largest predatory fish. They are the only known surviving species of their genus, Carcharodon. The Great White Shark has a robust large conical-shaped snout. It has almost the same size upper and lower lobes on the tail fin (like most mackerel shark, but unlike most other sharks). It is pale to dark gray and has a white belly.
298537
Ambergris is formed in the intestines of whales, and has sometimes been called 'whale vomit'. It is a valuable ingredient in perfumes and is often used as an aphrodesiac around the world.\n\nRecently an Australian couple found a chunk and sold it for some nice bucks!\n\nI've never heard of an equivilant for sharks.
95451
I know of no such place in Africa. Are you certain you are not thinking of the Cave Sleeping Sharks off Isla Mujeres in Mexico?
161838
Yes, what you saw were pelagic siphonophores. These are colonial animals. The Portuguese Man o War is the most widely known siphonophore.\nAmong the more important predators of midwater habitats in Monterey Bay and elsewhere are the members of the Subclass Siphonophorae.   Whether siphonophores are single individuals or colonies of well-integrated polymorphic hydroid and medusoid individuals is a matter of debate among specialists.  Some species are truly impressive organisms, forming delicate chains in excess of 100 feet long.  Many others are far more diminutive and inconspicuous.  All siphonophores are predators and typically spread a veil of nematocyst-laden tentacles for capturing unsuspecting prey.  Some of the "individuals" along the length of the stem provide tentacles for defense (dactylozooids) and food capture.  Depending on the type of siphonophore, others may function as swimming bells (nectophores), aid flotation (pneumatophore), provide additional defense (bracts), digest prey (gastrozooids), or serve for reproductive functions (gonozooids).  The central stem to which all these units are attached is hollow.  The gastrovascular cavity passes throughout the stem, and extends into the float (if present), swimming bells, tentacles, bracts, gastrozooids and gonozooids.  \n\n    A bewildering array of about 150 species inhabit the oceans.  Many present difficulties in identification, even for experts. \n\nHope that helps
746758
If you put sawfisches distribution or sawfisches map in google you will find a lot af sites that could serve.\n\nHere is one about the green sawfishes: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/GreenSawfish/GreenSawfish.htm  that show the following\n\n\nGeographical Distribution\nThe green sawfish appears to be confined to the Indian and western Pacific oceans, although the precise range in this vast area is not clear. In Africa, the species is often confused with the similar-looking smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata). The green sawfish occurs along the eastern African coastline from South Africa, ranging north along the east coast through Somalia and the Gulf of Aden to as far north as the Red Sea. It probably does not occur in the Mediterranean Sea. From the Gulf of Aden it ranges east along the Indian coast to Thailand and south through Indonesia. In Australia it occurs from Broome (Western Australia) to Sydney (New South Wales), and a single record exists from off Glenelg in South Australia. The green sawfish occurs off southern China and Vietnam in the South China Sea, throughout the Philippines, south through Borneo and east to Papua New Guinea. The green sawfish no longer appears to be common anywhere in its range. \n\n\nWorld distribution map for the green sawfish  \n\n(I can not include the map image itself here)
97580
Easy. Sharks belong within the subphylum Vertebrata.
112066
Sharks in general are poikilotherms or ectotherms (their body temperature is similar to the temperature of the surrounding water). \nHowever, some species (high-power fast swimmers belonging to family Lamnidae, such as genus Alopias -thresher sharks- and Lamna - porbeagle and others- ) have partial endothermy. That is, they're able to "hoard" the heat generated by muscle activity and therefore achieve differential temperature zones in their bodies, which are some degrees above water temperature. This is achieved by means of special countercurrent blood vessels and rete mirabilia. \nSome typical body parts that are kept warmer are the brain and eyes, the swimming muscles, and the "core" with the visceral organs, which is logical given that higher temperature allows a higher metabolic rate of these important organs.\n\n---------------------\nAmy: not only sharks, also tuna and related bony fishes are endotherms. And some reptiles too.\n------------------\nNew update: Wow, this question keeps getting answers that state that only  birds and mammals are endotherms. Please, people, if this is what they taught you at school, try to investigate a little further. Of course MOST sharks are "cold-blooded" (that is not the happiest term, it's better to say ectotherm - meaning that it gets its body heat from outside - or poikilotherm - meaning that body temperature is variable). But endothermy is an advantageous trait, and it has evolved independently in many animal groups.
655443
Sharks normally swim or live at a much deeper depth than dolphins. They do tend to share the same waters as far as proximity, although they do not get along very well.