Night shark
Atlantic Nachthai ( Carcharhinus signatus )
The Atlantic Nachthai ( Carcharhinus signatus ), often referred to simply as Nachthai, is a species of the genus Carcharhinus within the requiem sharks ( Carcharhinidae ). The range of this type includes a plurality of mutually isolated areas in the Atlantic off the coast of North and South America and West Africa.
Appearance and characteristics
The Atlantic Nachthai is a medium sized shark with a maximum length of about 280 centimeters. He has a gray back staining without noticeable markings or markings may occasionally occur a black stippling. The belly is white and unmarked.
He has an anal fin and two dorsal fins. The first dorsal fin is small and triangular, it begins at the height of the free ends of the pectoral fins. The second dorsal fin is made small, but has a relatively long free end. A Interdorsalkamm is available. The snout is long and very pointed, viewed from below almost V-shaped. The eyes are colored in contrast to all other species of the genus striking green. Like all species of the animals have five gill slits and have no spray hole.
Way of life
The Atlantic Nachthai live in coastal areas over the continental shelf and the continental slope at depths of 50 to 100, rarely up to about 600 meters depth. It forms larger groups (schools) and is mainly found and caught at night, so he got his name. The shark is very active, are also seasonal migrations of animals known. It feeds mainly on small predatory bony fishes and crustaceans.
He is like other species of the genus are viviparous and forms a yolk sac placenta ( placental viviparous ). The female gives birth to an average of 4 to 18 young sharks in open water to the world, they have a size of about 60 to 70 centimeters.
Dissemination
The range of this type includes a plurality of mutually isolated areas in the Atlantic off the coast of North and South America and West Africa. He is found in the western Atlantic Ocean from Delaware to Florida and the Bahamas and Cuba. The South American distribution area is located at the southern Brazil and Argentina. In the eastern Atlantic, this area includes the coastal areas of Senegal, in Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Zaire and Angola.
System
Together with some other species of the Atlantic Nachthai until a few years ago in a separate genus night sharks ( Hypo prion ) was provided. These species belonged to the Pondicherryhai (C. hemiodon ) and the Hartnasenhai (C. macloti ); for the smooth tooth blacktip (C. leiodon ) was discussed due to the tooth form an affiliation.